About Bright's Disease

Bright's disease is archaic terminology for a classification of kidney diseases. These problems with the kidney are now known as acute and chronic nephritis. The result of Bright's disease, or nephritis, is inflammation of one or both kidneys. This inflammation results in the excretion of protein via urination. Left untreated, Bright's disease can result in death.

History

The "father of nephrology," Richard Bright, was an English physician in the 1800s. Through extensive research, Bright identified the symptoms and causes of kidney disease, becoming the first physician to accurately equate the existence of albumin in urine with kidney pathology. Early treatments of the condition included bloodletting, warm baths and laxatives and diuretics to treat the associated edema, or swelling.

Types

There are two basic types of nephritis: acute and chronic. Acute nephritis is usually short-term and affects mostly children and teenagers. The disease occurs most often in males. Acute nephritis has a generally good prognosis. Chronic nephritis, on the other hand, is the long-term version of Bright's disease. It is an advanced form of kidney disease which results in long-lasting inflammation that causes the breakdown of glomeruli, which are stuctures inside the kidney. The prognosis for chronic nephritis is poor. The condition leads to high blood pressure and loss of kidney function.

Features

The features of Bright's disease are the presence of dark urine and edema, sometimes to the point of restricting breathing. Acute nephritic attacks are often preceded by severe back pain, vomiting and fever. Symptoms often come on slowly, making Bright's disease not immediately identifiable. Medical tests, including a urinalysis, must be completed to accurately diagnose kidney disease. The causes of Bright's disease are generally murky, though many researchers believe certain medications and underlying medical conditions can trigger the condition.

Effects

Acute nephritis is generally resolved in the body and rarely leaves any long-lasting effects. Chronic nephritis, however, results in degenerative changes in the kidney, which impairs the functioning of the organ and causes scarring. The final outcome of the condition is often end-stage kidney failure. The chronic form of the disease is often extremely uncomfortable for its patients, primarily due to the edema involved.

Prevention/Solution

The acute form of Bright's disease usually responds well to treatment. Many times, a strict regimen of administering of immunosuppressive drugs will be used. The result of these medications is to reduce inflammation which in turn lessens the amount of scarring. Chronic nephritis is also often treated with immunosuppressive therapy. Associated conditions are treated as well, including using diuretics for edema and hypertension-fighting medications for high blood pressure. Advanced stages of chronic nephritis sometimes require kidney dialysis or even a kidney transplant.