Nephritis is inflammation of the kidney. The word comes from the Greek nephro- meaning "of the kidney" and -itis meaning "inflammation". Nephritis is often caused by infections, toxins, and auto-immune diseases.

[edit] Subtypes

• glomerulonephritis is inflammation of the glomeruli. (Often when the term "nephritis" is used without qualification, this is the condition meant.)
• interstitial nephritis or tubulo-interstitial nephritis is inflammation of the spaces between renal tubules.
• pyelonephritis is when a urinary tract infection has reached the pyelum (pelvis) of the kidney.
• Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidney caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease of the immune system.

Nephritis is the most common cause of glomerular injury. It is a disturbance of the glomerular structure with inflammatory cell proliferation. This can lead to: reduced glomerular blood flow leading to reduced urine output (oliguria) & retention of waste products (uremia). As a result, there can also be leakage of red blood cells from damaged glomerulus (hematuria). Low renal blood flow activates the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), which therefore causes fluid retention and mild hypertension.

[edit] Epidemiology

Disability-adjusted life year for nephritis and nephrosis per 100,000 inhabitants in 2004.^[1]

     no data      less than 40      40-120      120-200      200-280      280-360      360-440      440-520      520-600      600-680      680-760      760-840      more than 840

[edit] See also

• Bright's Disease
• Wegener's granulomatosis

[edit] References

This disease article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e