Top Ten Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) Facts

Each person has two kidneys in their lower back. Each kidney is made up of approximately one million tiny filters called “glomeruli.” Much as a coffee filter keeps coffee grounds in, glomeruli keep valuable cells and protein in the blood. When glomeruli become damaged, proteins begin leaking into the urine (proteinuria). Proteinuria causes fluid to accumulate in the body, and prolonged leakage can lea d to kidney damage and even failure. Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a rare disease that attacks the kidney’s filtering system (glomeruli) causing serious scarring. FSGS is one of the causes of a serious condition known as Nephrotic Syndrome.
FSGS is diagnosed with renal biopsy (when doctors examine a tiny portion of the kidney tissue), however, because only some sections of the glomeruli are affected, the biopsy can sometimes be inconclusive.
FSGS causes inefficient filtering of wastes from the blood which in return causes the following symptoms:
1. Proteinuria – Large amounts of protein “spilling” into the urine
2. Edema – Swelling in parts of the body, most noticeable around the eyes, hands and feet, that can become painful
3.Hypertension – High blood pressure
4. Hypoproteinemia – Low blood protein
5. For those who have a family member with FSGS, your chance of this disease is increased. Some of the genes known to be related with FSGS are alpha actinin, WT1, and podocin. It is more prone to African-Americans than other groups.
6. Hypercholesterolemia – High level of cholesterol in the blood
7. Proteinuria Treatment aims to decrease the amount of protein lost in the urine
8.The less protein in the urine, the better the patient will do
9. Even a partial remission is important
10.Many adults can achieve a complete or partial remission with immune suppressing medications
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