Glomerulonephritis

Glomerulonephritis occurs when the glomeruli — the part of the kidneys that filters waste and fluid from the blood — don't work properly. When the glomeruli are damaged and not working properly, harmful substances can build up in the body. If left untreated, the toxins can lead to kidney failure.

The experts at UPMC specialize in treating glomerular disease. Our team will find the cause of your condition and develop a treatment plan to manage your symptoms and reduce your risk of complications.

On this page

• What Is Glomerulonephritis?
• What Are the Symptoms of Glomerulonephritis?
• How Do You Diagnose Glomerulonephritis?
• How Do You Treat Glomerulonephritis?

What Is Glomerulonephritis?

Glomerulonephritis occurs when part of your kidneys that filter waste and fluid from your blood — called the glomeruli — don't work properly. When your glomeruli are damaged and don’t work properly, harmful substances can build up in your body. If left untreated, it can lead to kidney failure.

What are the types of glomerulonephritis? 

There are three types of glomerulonephritis, including:

• Acute glomerulonephritis — Occurs suddenly and may get better with treatment.
• Chronic glomerulonephritis — Develops slowly over time and often does not cause symptoms until the condition is severe.
• Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis — Develops suddenly and causes rapid loss of kidney function.

What causes glomerulonephritis?

Causes of glomerulonephritis include:

• Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus or Goodpasture syndrome.
• Certain cancers, such as multiple myeloma.
• Vasculitis (inflammation of your blood vessels), such as Pauci-immune disease.
• Viral and bacterial infections.

What are glomerulonephritis risk factors and complications?

Glomerulonephritis risk factors

Certain conditions can increase your risk of developing glomerulonephritis, including:

• A history of viral and bacterial infections, such as strep throat, abscesses, or heart and lung infections.
• A history of problems with your glomeruli or other kidney disorders.
• Amyloidosis, which causes amyloid proteins to build up in your body.
• Autoimmune disorders, such as lupus or Goodpasture syndrome.
• Blood or lymphatic system conditions.
• Certain cancers.
• Diseases that affect your blood vessels, such as vasculitis or polyarteritis.

Complications of glomerulonephritis

If left untreated or in severe cases, glomerulonephritis can cause serious kidney problems, including:

• Acute kidney injury (AKI).
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD).
• Hyperkalemia (high potassium levels).
• Kidney failure.
• Nephrotic syndrome.

How can I prevent glomerulonephritis? 

You may be unable to prevent glomerulonephritis, but taking care of your kidneys may help reduce your risk.

To reduce your risk of glomerulonephritis, you can:

• Control chronic conditions — See a doctor for regular care if you have diabetes or high blood pressure.
• Eat healthy — Eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. They're high in potassium, which promotes healthy blood pressure. Limiting salt from shakers and processed foods also helps reduce your blood pressure.
• Exercise — Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity most days of the week.
• Get preventive care — Routinely check your blood pressure and blood sugar (glucose).
• Keep track of medications — Inform your doctor if you routinely take over-the-counter drugs or herbal supplements and avoid or limit the use of NSAID medications (e.g., ibuprofen, naproxen).
• Manage stress — Take steps to manage stress and get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night.
• Reduce alcohol intake — Limit alcohol to one drink a day for women and two drinks per day for men.
• Stop smoking — Quit smoking if you smoke cigarettes or marijuana.
• Treat infections quickly — Get medical care if you think you have an infection — especially strep throat or a sexually transmitted infection.

How common is glomerulonephritis?

Glomerulonephritis is a rare disorder, affecting about 2.5 cases per 100,000 adults in the U.S.

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What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Glomerulonephritis?

Glomerulonephritis may not cause symptoms right away.

As the condition gets worse, you may notice signs of reduced kidney function, including:

• Anemia, or a lower-than-normal amount of red blood cells in your body.
• Blood in your urine, which may turn your urine pink, red, or brown.
• Fatigue, body aches, and loss of appetite.
• High blood pressure.
• Protein in your urine, which can make your urine look foamy or bubbly.
• Swelling in your body, such as your face, legs, ankles, feet, or stomach.

When should I see a doctor about my glomerulonephritis symptoms?

If left untreated, glomerulonephritis can lead to serious health problems. If you are experiencing symptoms of glomerulonephritis, you should schedule an appointment with your doctor right away.

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How Do You Diagnose Glomerulonephritis?

Some cases of glomerulonephritis do not cause noticeable symptoms and are diagnosed during routine physical exams or by testing for other conditions. If you have symptoms, your doctor will perform a physical exam, talk to you about your health history, and order blood and urine tests to diagnose glomerulonephritis.

What to expect during your visit

During your visit, your doctor will:

• Ask about any medications you’re taking.
• Order blood or urine tests.
• Perform a physical exam.
• Review your health history.

Tests to diagnose glomerulonephritis

Your doctor may order blood, urine, or other tests to check for signs of glomerulonephritis.

Blood tests include:

• Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) — Shows how well your kidneys are filtering urea nitrogen, a waste product, from your blood.
• Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) — Shows how efficiently your kidneys are functioning based on your age, creatinine level, and sex.
• Serum (blood) creatinine — Shows how well your kidneys are filtering creatinine, a waste product, from your blood.

Urine tests include:

• Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR) — Looks for high levels of a protein called albumin in your urine.
• Urine output — Tracks how much urine your body produces each day.
• Urine protein-to-creatinine ratio (uPCR) — Looks for high levels of all types of protein in your urine, not just albumin.

Other tests include:

• CT scan — A test that creates images of your body's organs, bones, and tissues.
• Kidney biopsy — A procedure that involves taking small pieces of kidney tissue for examination under a microscope to check for signs of disease. This test is used to confirm a glomerulonephritis diagnosis.
• Ultrasound — Uses sound waves to create images of your organs to check for problems.

Glomerulonephritis prognosis

Depending on the cause, glomerulonephritis may be temporary and treatable or worsen and lead to serious complications. Your doctor will discuss your prognosis with you.

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How Do You Treat Glomerulonephritis?

The goal of glomerulonephritis treatment is to keep your condition from getting worse and prevent permanent kidney damage. Your treatment will depend on the cause of your glomerulonephritis and the type and severity of your symptoms.

Treatment may include:

Dietary changes

Dietary changes alone may not be enough to treat glomerulonephritis, but reducing the amount of salt, fluid, and protein you eat may help your kidneys function better. Your doctor may refer you to a registered dietitian, who will recommend dietary changes to support kidney health.

Medicine to treat glomerulonephritis

Depending on the cause of your glomerulonephritis, your doctor may prescribe medication to:

• Manage blood pressure.
• Reduce inflammation.
• Suppress your immune system.
• Treat an infection that is causing your condition.

Dialysis for glomerulonephritis

If your glomerulonephritis progresses to end-stage kidney disease or kidney failure — which is defined as having less than 15% of your normal kidney function — it can cause toxic waste to build up in your body. You may need to have dialysis, also called renal replacement therapy, to filter and clean your blood.

What happens during dialysis?

During dialysis, a machine cleans waste from your blood and helps control your blood pressure.

There are two common types of dialysis:

• Hemodialysis — Performed using a machine at a dialysis clinic or home three times a week for about four hours.
• Peritoneal dialysis — Performed through a catheter in your abdomen at home.

How effective is dialysis for glomerulonephritis?

If you have end-stage kidney disease, dialysis is a lifesaving treatment option. Without it, toxins and fluid would build up in your body and cause death within days or weeks.

However, for most people, dialysis is only a short-term treatment. In time, you may need a kidney transplant.

Supportive care without dialysis

Although dialysis treatments are lifesaving for many people, they can be hard and sometimes painful for others.

For people with advanced kidney disease who want to avoid dialysis treatment, renal supportive care can offer hope and comfort.

Supportive care aims to:

• Treat the symptoms of kidney disease.
• Enhance your quality of life.

Plasmapheresis for glomerulonephritis

If a problem with your immune system is causing your glomerulonephritis, your doctor may recommend a treatment called plasmapheresis.

What happens during plasmapheresis?

Plasmapheresis involves using a machine to separate the liquid part of your blood, called plasma, from your blood cells.

If you have an autoimmune disorder, your plasma contains antibodies that mistakenly attack healthy parts of your body. Removing plasma from your blood also removes the harmful antibodies. After your plasma is separated and removed, it will be replaced with intravenous fluids or healthy donated plasma.

Why Choose UPMC for Glomerulonephritis Care?

When you choose UPMC for glomerulonephritis care, you will receive:

• Access to world-class nephrology expertise — Our world-renowned experts treat the full spectrum of kidney diseases using the latest diagnostic and treatment techniques.
• A full range of treatment options — We'll work with you to develop a treatment plan that slows the progression of your disease as much as possible and improves your quality of life.
• Multidisciplinary care — If you need advanced kidney treatment, we partner with special dialysis clinics, experts in supportive care, and kidney transplant surgeons.

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By UPMC Editorial Staff. Last reviewed on 2025-04-24 by William Hoffman, MD.