Nephritis can often be caused by infections and toxins, but it is most commonly caused byautoimmune disorders that affect the major organs like kidneys.[5]
Athletic nephritis is nephritis resulting from strenuous exercise.[8] Bloody urine after strenuous exercise may also result frommarch hemoglobinuria, which is caused by trauma tored blood cells, causingtheir rupture, which leads to the release of hemoglobin into the urine.[9]
Nephritis can produce glomerular injury, by disturbing the glomerular structure with inflammatory cell proliferation.[10] This can lead to reduced glomerular blood flow, leading to reduced urine output (oliguria)[11] and retention of waste products (uremia).[12] As a result, red blood cells may leak out of damaged glomeruli, causing blood to appear in the urine (hematuria).[13]
Low renal blood flow activates therenin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS), causing fluid retention and mildhypertension.[14] As the kidneys inflame, they begin to excrete needed protein from the affected individual's body into the urine stream. This condition is calledproteinuria.[15]
Loss of necessary protein due to nephritis can result in several life-threatening symptoms. The most serious complication of nephritis can occur if there is significant loss of the proteins that keep blood from clotting excessively. Loss of these proteins can result in blood clots, causing sudden stroke.[16]
The diagnosis depends on the cause of the nephritis, and in the case oflupus nephritis,blood tests, X-rays and an ultrasound can help ascertain if the individual has the condition.[3]
Treatment (or management) of nephritis depends on what has provoked the inflammation of the kidney(s). In the case of lupus nephritis,hydroxychloroquine could be used.[18]
Nephritis represents the ninth-most-common cause of death among all women in the US (and the fifth leading cause among non-Hispanic black women).[19]
Worldwide, the highest rates[clarification needed] of nephritis are 50–55% for African or Asian descent followed by Hispanic at 43% andCaucasian at 17%.[20]
The average age of an individual diagnosed with kidney inflammation (in this case, lupus nephritis) is 28.4 years old.[21]
