Interstitial nephritis It is a disease that causes inflammation in the kidney tissue. The kidneys are the body's filtration system, removing waste products and excess water from the blood and excreting them in urine. When the kidneys become inflamed due to interstitial nephritis, it becomes difficult for the body to remove waste products, causing additional problems.
This article explains the symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment of interstitial nephritis.
Signs and Symptoms of Interstitial Nephritis
Some symptoms of interstitial nephritis may cause nausea or weakness, but most people with this disease do not feel pain. This condition causes swelling around the kidney's filtration system, making it difficult for it to filter waste products from the blood, but the kidneys still produce urine.
Decreased urine output may be the most common symptom of interstitial nephritis. Other symptoms include:
- Blood in the urine
- My mouth is dry and I feel thirsty.
- I feel nauseous
- Feeling tired or confused
- Fever
- Rash or itchy skin
- swelling of the hands, feet, or legs
- getting fat
What causes interstitial nephritis?
Certain medications, infections, and chronic diseases can cause interstitial nephritis. Healthcare providers classify them into two categories: acute and chronic.
Acute interstitial nephritis
Acute interstitial nephritis is the most common type and is often short-lived. Certain medications or drugs often cause acute interstitial nephritis. Some of the most common include:
Allergic reactions and infections, such as tuberculosis, can also cause acute interstitial nephritis, which can potentially overstimulate the immune system. This excessive stimulation may cause the immune system to mistakenly attack the kidney area, which may result in inflammation of the kidney tissue.
chronic interstitial nephritis
Chronic interstitial nephritis often lasts for months or years. Chronic health conditions, such as autoimmune diseases such as lupus or granulomatous disease, or abnormal blood electrolyte levels, such as low potassium or high calcium, can cause interstitial nephritis.
Who is at risk for interstitial nephritis?
The exact mechanism causing interstitial nephritis is unknown. However, the following people may be at increased risk:
- People who use over-the-counter (OTC) medicines for a long period of time
- People with certain autoimmune diseases
- People taking certain prescription antibiotics or medications
- People with excess calcium or uric acid in their blood
- People who lack potassium in their blood
It is important to know whether any of the medications you are currently taking or any health conditions that may be causing the condition. Make sure your healthcare provider knows all the medications you are taking so they can monitor you for the development of interstitial nephritis.
How is kidney inflammation diagnosed?
Your health care provider begins the process of diagnosing interstitial nephritis with a physical examination, questioning your medical history, and obtaining blood and urine laboratory samples for testing. It is important to tell your health care provider all components of your medical history and symptoms, including all medications you are taking, even OTC medications and supplements.
It is difficult for health care providers to diagnose interstitial nephritis based on symptoms alone because symptoms tend to be vague and non-specific (symptoms are general and can be caused by a variety of causes). Before diagnosing interstitial nephritis, you may be tested for other conditions, such as urinary tract infections (UTIs), to rule out other conditions.
If the initial workup suggests interstitial nephritis and other diseases have been ruled out, your doctor will likely order a kidney biopsy to confirm the diagnosis. During a biopsy, a small piece of kidney tissue is removed and examined under a microscope.
How is interstitial nephritis treated?
The most common cause of acute interstitial nephritis is medication, so the nephritis will resolve on its own when the medication is stopped. If it does not resolve, your healthcare provider may prescribe a course of corticosteroids to help reduce inflammation. Despite these interventions, some patients with acute interstitial nephritis may require short-term dialysis to relieve the kidneys of their workload and allow them to recover.
If chronic interstitial nephritis occurs due to a chronic disease, it is essential to treat the underlying disease. If interstitial nephritis seriously affects your kidneys, you may experience increased blood pressure and need medications to control it and reduce the workload of your kidneys.
People with chronic interstitial nephritis who have severely damaged kidneys or scarred tissue may need short-term or long-term dialysis to properly remove waste from the body.
Lifestyle changes and self-care measures
Lifestyle changes and self-care measures related to interstitial nephritis are more about protecting the kidneys from stress and overwork than directly affecting the condition. Some lifestyle changes include:
- Eat a kidney-healthy diet that includes fruits and vegetables, lean proteins and whole grains, avoid salt and excess added sugar, and drink plenty of fluids.
- Stay active, such as walking for at least 30 minutes every day, five or more days a week.
- Maintain healthy blood pressure (generally less than 120/80 mmHg) to prevent damage to kidney blood vessels.
- Improve mental health
- Limit your alcohol intake to prevent your kidneys from working too hard.
- Eliminate tobacco products, which can damage blood vessels throughout the body, including the kidneys
What is the outlook for patients with interstitial nephritis?
If detected early, most people with interstitial nephritis regain kidney function. However, if left untreated for too long, scarring of the kidneys can occur in up to 40 to 50 percent of people.
A primary prevention strategy is knowing the risks associated with specific medications and medical conditions that are likely to be associated with interstitial nephritis. To take your medications as directed, it is important to educate yourself about their use and side effects.
If you are taking any medications or have a medical condition associated with interstitial nephritis and you begin to experience symptoms, tell your health care provider right away. It may help detect interstitial nephritis early and potentially prevent kidney damage.
If interstitial nephritis significantly affects the kidneys, blood pressure may increase and medication may be needed to control blood pressure. People who need dialysis may need to make lifestyle adjustments as it is important to receive treatment as scheduled to maintain optimal health and well-being.
potential complications
The biggest complication of interstitial nephritis is kidney dysfunction due to scarring. If you have extensive scarring, you may experience complications such as:
- Anemia (low red blood cell count or function)
- High blood pressure that requires lifestyle changes and medication management
- Glomerulopathy (Rare Inflammatory Kidney Disease)
- Nephrotic syndrome (an abnormality indicating kidney dysfunction)
- Tubular atrophy (chronic kidney damage)
summary
Certain medications and chronic health conditions may contribute to interstitial nephritis, but the exact mechanisms are unknown. Prevention includes understanding the side effects and dosages of medications and managing chronic conditions with your healthcare team. Early intervention can help prevent long-term kidney damage. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any symptoms that concern you.