Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis

What is Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis?

Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis has an acronym of FSGS. Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis is a medical condition that leads to the person having a urinary protein loss which may eventually progress into the scarring of the person’s glomerular filters which are located in the kidney and this shows the symptoms of kidney failure. The focal and segmental are medical description of the pattern of the kidney damage as seen when viewing under the microscope. Segmental means to say that part of the glomerulus of the person is damage. While focal means to say that there is some scarring of the glomeruli.

Normally, anatomically speaking, we all have glomeruli which functions as filters that aids in getting rid of the harmful and unnecessary waste or substances in the person’s body. Glomeruli are found in the person’s kidney. For every kidney, there are thousands of glomeruli. The single part of the glomeruli is termed as glomerulus.

Difference of a Normal Kidney and a Kidney with FSGS

The persons with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis who does not undergo treatment may lead to kidney failure in the long run. When that happens, the only treatment available then is either via transplantation of the kidney or renal dialysis. To clear things up, Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis is not a singular disease condition but a classification for a disease condition that has the same histopathology.

Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Symptoms

Those who are known to have Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis would report some to the following experienced or manifestation of symptoms like:

• Gaining of weight
• Generalized swelling or medically termed as edema which is mostly seen in the legs
• Poor or lack of appetite
• Urine is foamy in nature due to the excess in the protein found in the urine
• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Abnormal laboratory test such as abnormal creatinine level

Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Causes

Usually those who have Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis have unknown or idiopathic causes. What we only know is that if affects children as well as adults. According to statistics, men are the higher portion to be affected with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis. Those who have nephrotic syndrome will also experience Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis.

Despite of the fact that Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis cause is unknown, there are still those persons with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis who have known causes. The following are the known causes associated with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis:

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus
• Obesity
• Usage of Heroin
• Sickle cell disease
• Reflux Nephropathy
• Genetic Problems that are inherited
• Obstructive sleep apnea
• Kidney defects since birth

Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Treatment

With regards to the treatment of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, the main goal of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis is to be able to control the nephrotic syndrome symptoms and prevent the person to experience the chronic form of kidney failure. The following treatments are suggested to persons with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis:

• Restrictions of fluid which is needed since the disease condition targets the persons kidney
• Transplantation of kidney which is needed especially if the person is in the severe stage of the Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis
• Diet that is low in fat is needed for persons with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis tends to have high cholesterol and triglyceride level which is bad to one’s health
• Diet that is salt reduced for salt will attract water. Hence, the more salt the body stores or has, the more water will also store inside the person’s body
• Medications such as:

1. Anti inflammatory medications to prevent inflammation process
2. Antibiotic medications to control the opportunistic infection
3. Anti hypertensive medications to manage hypertension
4. Anti cholesterol medications to control cholesterol level
5. Vitamin D supplements to provide the needed vitamin D which the body needs and replaces the loss of vitamin D brought about by the Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis disease condition
6. Diuretic medications to reduce the storing of water and resolve the edema problem
7. Steroid medications to reduce pain
8. Potassium supplement medications to replace the loss of potassium

• Dialysis treatment which is needed when persons with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis are in the severe form or stage of this disease condition

Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis Prognosis

Sadly, according to statistics, those persons who have Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis will later on develop chronic form of kidney failure within 10 years span of time. However, provided the proper and ideal treatment to the person with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis can lead to the slowing down or remission of the progression of the Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis. The treatment response of persons with Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis may differ from one person to another. Some persons that have Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis may respond to the treatment initially and it may also relapse or come back in the future. While others, who have Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis will slowly and continually lose the function of the kidney over the span of time.  When that happens, the person is recommended to undergo transplantation of the kidney or dialysis of the kidney.