Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medical condition involving inflammation of the glomeruli, the tiny filtering units within the kidneys. This inflammation impairs the kidneys' ability to filter waste and excess fluid from the blood. It is characterized by symptoms such as reduced urine output, the presence of blood and protein in the urine, and swelling (edema).

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The patient was diagnosed with acute glomerulonephritis following a streptococcal infection.
  • Chronic glomerulonephritis can lead to a gradual decline in kidney function over many years.
  • A kidney biopsy is often necessary to confirm the specific type of glomerulonephritis.

Advanced Usage

• "Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis": A specific type that develops as an immune system complication after an infection with certain strains of streptococcus bacteria.
  • Post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis is a common cause of kidney disease in children.
• "Membranous glomerulonephritis": A form characterized by thickening of the glomerular basement membrane.
  • Membranous glomerulonephritis is a leading cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults.

Variants and Related Words

• Glomerular (adj): Pertaining to the glomeruli.
  • Glomerular filtration rate is a key measure of kidney function.
• Glomerulus (n, plural: glomeruli): The specific cluster of capillaries in the kidney where blood filtration begins.
  • Each nephron in the kidney contains a glomerulus.
• Nephritis (n): A general term for inflammation of the kidney, of which glomerulonephritis is a specific type.

Synonyms

• Glomerular nephritis: A less common, synonymous term.
• Bright's disease: An older, historical term that encompassed various kidney conditions, including what is now classified as glomerulonephritis.

Related Phrases

• "Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN)": A severe, quickly worsening form of the disease.
  • Rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis requires immediate and aggressive medical treatment.
• "Lupus nephritis": Glomerulonephritis caused by the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  • Lupus nephritis is a serious complication of SLE that requires careful management.

Noun

1. nephritis marked by inflammation of the glomeruli of the kidney; characterized by decreased production of urine and by the presence of blood and protein in the urine and by edema