Patients with Nephrotic Syndrome have one obvious characteristic: edema or
swelling. Generally, the reasons are as follows:
Firstly, when patients are suffering from Nephrotic Syndrome, a large amount
of protein will leak out, which leads to low protein in plasma, thus causing the
decline of plasma oncotic pressure. When it declines from normal one(3.3~4kPa)
to 0.8~1.1kPa, water in the blood vessels will move to the interstitial fluid,
thus causing edema or swelling.E.G Facial Edema in Nephrotic Syndrome
Secondly, effective blood volume decrease, which can also leads to edema or
swelling. The moving out of water in plasma leads to the decrease of effective
blood volume. In this case, ADH increases,and the reabsorption water of renal
tubules increases, as well. The renin- angiotensin- aldosterone syImmunotherapy
starts, which leads to secondary hyperaldosteronism, thus causing increased
absorption of sodium and inhibiting the coming into being of natriureticfactor.
So the discharge of sodium decreases in the kidney, which leads to the retention
of water and sodium in the body, thus causing serious edema or swelling.