Nephrosis Syndrome, or Nephrotic Syndrome is a disorder which occurs to the
glomerular structure of the kidneys, causing proteinuria, hypoalbuminaemia,
hyperlipidemia, and generalized edema. This is usually subsequent to a previous
infection, and can be more commonly seen in children 2~3 years old, but all ages
can be affected. While, how do you get Nephrosis Syndrome?
Causes of Nephrosis Syndrome: immune dysfunction
We all know that our immune system, composed of the innate immune system and
back-up system, is the first line of defensing against a wide array of
potentially harmful substances by recognizing and responding to antigens. In
normal circumstances, the innate immune system works alone to fight off these
invaders and stay healthy. Only when the innate immune system fails to work
adequately, the back-up system will be activated to help with protecting the
body. With the cooperation of these two sets of systems, human can stay in a
healthy state. However, immune disease may be caused due to immune
dysfunction.
Recent study shows that most of kidney diseases (>95%) occurs as a result
of immune dysfunction, so does Nephrosis Syndrome. Immune dysfunction will occur
when the innate immune system continuously sends signals to keep the back-up
system working, or the back-up system loses self-control ability to stop working
in time. In this case, when the outer pathological bacteria and virus invade,
the cells of immune system fail to defend but combine with them, forming the
immune complex.
There are special epitopes in the kidneys which can attract the immune
complex, so more and more immune complexes will deposit in the renal area. In
order to remove these stubborn immune complexes, immune response within the body
will become more and more intense, leading to hypersensitivity reaction
eventually.
Hypersensitivity reaction aroses gradual damages of the macroscopic
filtering units-glomeruli, thus resulting in serious medical condition, known as
Nephrosis Syndrome.