Nefrótico

Nefrótico is a term derived from "nephros," the Greek word for kidney, and "-otic," an adjective suffix indicating a condition or relation. In medicine, "nefrótico" is used to describe conditions or symptoms related to the nephrotic syndrome. The nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder characterized by a combination of symptoms including significant proteinuria (excess protein in the urine), hypoalbuminemia (low levels of albumin in the blood), edema (swelling), and hyperlipidemia (high levels of lipids in the blood).

This syndrome is not a single disease but rather a clinical manifestation of various underlying kidney diseases that damage the glomeruli, the tiny filtering units in the kidneys. The damage leads to increased permeability of the glomerular filtration barrier, allowing large amounts of protein to escape from the blood into the urine. This loss of protein, particularly albumin, reduces the oncotic pressure in the blood vessels, causing fluid to leak into the surrounding tissues and resulting in edema.

Causes of nephrotic syndrome can be primary, meaning they originate in the kidney itself, such as minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, or membranous nephropathy. Secondary causes include systemic diseases like diabetes mellitus, lupus erythematosus, or infections that affect the kidneys. The diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome is based on clinical presentation and laboratory findings, while treatment aims to address the underlying cause and manage the symptoms to prevent complications.