BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuFocal segmental glomerulosclerosisSegmental glomerulosclerosis; Focal sclerosis with hyalinosisFocal segmental glomerulosclerosis is scar tissue in the filtering unit of the kidney. This structure is called the glomerulus. The glomeruli serve as filters that help the body get rid of harmful substances. Each kidney has thousands of glomeruli. "Focal" means that some of the glomeruli become scarred. Others remain normal. "Segmental" means that only part of an individual glomerulus is damaged. Causes The cause of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is often unknown.The condition affects both children and adults. It occurs slightly more often in men and boys. It is also more common in African Americans. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis causes up to a quarter of all cases of nephrotic syndrome.Nephrotic syndromeNephrotic syndrome is a group of symptoms and abnormal test results that include protein in the urine, low blood protein levels in the blood, high ch...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Known causes include:Drugs such as heroin, bisphosphonates, anabolic steroids Infection Inherited genetic problems Obesity Reflux nephropathy (a condition in which urine flows backward from the bladder to the kidney) Reflux nephropathyReflux nephropathy is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged by the backward flow of urine into the kidney.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sickle cell disease Sickle cell diseaseSickle cell disease is a disorder passed down through families. The red blood cells that are normally shaped like a disk take on a sickle or crescen...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Some medicines Symptoms Symptoms may include:Foamy urine (from excess protein in the urine) Poor appetite Swelling, called generalized edema, from fluids held in the body EdemaSwelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Weight gain Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam. This exam may show tissue swelling (edema) and high blood pressure. Signs of kidney (renal) failure and excess fluid may develop as the condition gets worse.Tests may include:Kidney biopsy Kidney biopsyA kidney biopsy is the removal of a small piece of kidney tissue for examination.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney function tests (blood and urine) Kidney function testsKidney function tests are common lab tests used to evaluate how well the kidneys are working. Such tests include:BUN (Blood urea nitrogen) Creatinin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urinalysis UrinalysisUrinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urine microscopy Urine proteinUrine proteinThe urine protein dipstick test measures the presence of all proteins, including albumin, in a urine sample. Albumin and protein can also be measured...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatments may include:Medicines to reduce the body's inflammatory response. Medicines to lower blood pressure. Some of these medicines also help reduce the amount of protein that spills into the urine. Medicines to get rid of excess fluid (diuretic or "water pill"). Low sodium diet to reduce swelling and lower blood pressure. Low sodium dietYou may need to make changes to your diet when you have chronic kidney disease (CKD). These changes may include limiting fluids, eating a low-protei...Read Article Now Book Mark Article The goal of treatment is to control the symptoms of nephrotic syndrome and prevent chronic kidney disease or failure. These treatments may include:Chronic kidney disease or failureChronic kidney disease is the slow loss of kidney function over time. The main job of the kidneys is to remove wastes and excess water from the body...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Antibiotics to control infections Fluid restriction Low-fat diet Low- or moderate-protein diet Vitamin D supplements Vitamin DVitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body's fatty tissue and liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dialysis Kidney transplant Outlook (Prognosis) A large portion of people with focal or segmental glomerulosclerosis will develop chronic kidney disease or failure. Possible Complications Complications may include: Chronic kidney disease or failure End-stage kidney disease End-stage kidney diseaseEnd-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is the last stage of long-term (chronic) kidney disease. This is when your kidneys can no longer support your body's...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infection Malnutrition MalnutritionMalnutrition is the condition that occurs when your body does not get enough nutrients.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nephrotic syndrome When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you develop symptoms of this condition, especially if there is:Fever FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pain with urination Pain with urinationPainful urination is any pain, discomfort, or burning sensation when passing urine.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased urine outputDecreased urine outputDecreased urine output means that you produce less urine than normal. Most adults make at least 500 milliliters of urine in 24 hours (a little over ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prevention No prevention is known.Open ReferencesReferencesAppel GB, D'Agati VD. Primary and secondary (non-genetic) causes of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis. In: Feehally J, Floege J, Tonelli M, Johnson RJ, eds. Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 18.Radhakrishnan J, Appel GB. Glomerular disorders and nephrotic syndromes. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 113.Saha MK, Pendergraft WF, Jennette JC, Falk RJ. Primary glomerular disease. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 31. AllVideoImagesTogMale urinary system - illustration The urinary system is made up of the kidneys, ureters, urethra and bladder.Male urinary systemillustrationMale urinary system - illustration The urinary system is made up of the kidneys, ureters, urethra and bladder.Male urinary systemillustrationRelated Information Reflux nephropathy(Condition)Nephrotic syndrome(Condition)Urine protein dipstick test(Medical Test)Chronic kidney disease(Condition)End-stage kidney disease(Condition) Review Date: 4/12/2023 Reviewed By: Walead Latif, MD, Nephrologist and Clinical Associate Professor, Rutgers Medical School, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. Links to other sites are provided for information only -- they do not constitute endorsements of those other sites. No warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, is made as to the accuracy, reliability, timeliness, or correctness of any translations made by a third-party service of the information provided herein into any other language. © 1997- A.D.A.M., a business unit of Ebix, Inc. Any duplication or distribution of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. © 1997- All rights reserved. A.D.A.M. content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.Content is best viewed in IE9 or above, Firefox and Google Chrome browser.
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosisSegmental glomerulosclerosis; Focal sclerosis with hyalinosisFocal segmental glomerulosclerosis is scar tissue in the filtering unit of the kidney. This structure is called the glomerulus. The glomeruli serve as filters that help the body get rid of harmful substances. Each kidney has thousands of glomeruli. "Focal" means that some of the glomeruli become scarred. Others remain normal. "Segmental" means that only part of an individual glomerulus is damaged. Causes The cause of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is often unknown.The condition affects both children and adults. It occurs slightly more often in men and boys. It is also more common in African Americans. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis causes up to a quarter of all cases of nephrotic syndrome.Nephrotic syndromeNephrotic syndrome is a group of symptoms and abnormal test results that include protein in the urine, low blood protein levels in the blood, high ch...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Known causes include:Drugs such as heroin, bisphosphonates, anabolic steroids Infection Inherited genetic problems Obesity Reflux nephropathy (a condition in which urine flows backward from the bladder to the kidney) Reflux nephropathyReflux nephropathy is a condition in which the kidneys are damaged by the backward flow of urine into the kidney.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Sickle cell disease Sickle cell diseaseSickle cell disease is a disorder passed down through families. The red blood cells that are normally shaped like a disk take on a sickle or crescen...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Some medicines Symptoms Symptoms may include:Foamy urine (from excess protein in the urine) Poor appetite Swelling, called generalized edema, from fluids held in the body EdemaSwelling is the enlargement of organs, skin, or other body parts. It is caused by a buildup of fluid in the tissues. The extra fluid can lead to a ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Weight gain Exams and Tests The health care provider will perform a physical exam. This exam may show tissue swelling (edema) and high blood pressure. Signs of kidney (renal) failure and excess fluid may develop as the condition gets worse.Tests may include:Kidney biopsy Kidney biopsyA kidney biopsy is the removal of a small piece of kidney tissue for examination.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Kidney function tests (blood and urine) Kidney function testsKidney function tests are common lab tests used to evaluate how well the kidneys are working. Such tests include:BUN (Blood urea nitrogen) Creatinin...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urinalysis UrinalysisUrinalysis is the physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of urine. It involves a number of tests to detect and measure various compounds th...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Urine microscopy Urine proteinUrine proteinThe urine protein dipstick test measures the presence of all proteins, including albumin, in a urine sample. Albumin and protein can also be measured...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Treatment Treatments may include:Medicines to reduce the body's inflammatory response. Medicines to lower blood pressure. Some of these medicines also help reduce the amount of protein that spills into the urine. Medicines to get rid of excess fluid (diuretic or "water pill"). Low sodium diet to reduce swelling and lower blood pressure. Low sodium dietYou may need to make changes to your diet when you have chronic kidney disease (CKD). These changes may include limiting fluids, eating a low-protei...Read Article Now Book Mark Article The goal of treatment is to control the symptoms of nephrotic syndrome and prevent chronic kidney disease or failure. These treatments may include:Chronic kidney disease or failureChronic kidney disease is the slow loss of kidney function over time. The main job of the kidneys is to remove wastes and excess water from the body...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Antibiotics to control infections Fluid restriction Low-fat diet Low- or moderate-protein diet Vitamin D supplements Vitamin DVitamin D is a fat-soluble vitamin. Fat-soluble vitamins are stored in the body's fatty tissue and liver.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Dialysis Kidney transplant Outlook (Prognosis) A large portion of people with focal or segmental glomerulosclerosis will develop chronic kidney disease or failure. Possible Complications Complications may include: Chronic kidney disease or failure End-stage kidney disease End-stage kidney diseaseEnd-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is the last stage of long-term (chronic) kidney disease. This is when your kidneys can no longer support your body's...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Infection Malnutrition MalnutritionMalnutrition is the condition that occurs when your body does not get enough nutrients.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Nephrotic syndrome When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your provider if you develop symptoms of this condition, especially if there is:Fever FeverFever is the temporary increase in the body's temperature in response to a disease or illness. A child has a fever when the temperature is at or abov...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Pain with urination Pain with urinationPainful urination is any pain, discomfort, or burning sensation when passing urine.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Decreased urine outputDecreased urine outputDecreased urine output means that you produce less urine than normal. Most adults make at least 500 milliliters of urine in 24 hours (a little over ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Prevention No prevention is known.Open ReferencesReferencesAppel GB, D'Agati VD. Primary and secondary (non-genetic) causes of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis. In: Feehally J, Floege J, Tonelli M, Johnson RJ, eds. Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 18.Radhakrishnan J, Appel GB. Glomerular disorders and nephrotic syndromes. In: Goldman L, Schafer AI, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 26th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 113.Saha MK, Pendergraft WF, Jennette JC, Falk RJ. Primary glomerular disease. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 31.