How to Understand Bright's Disease

By eHow Health Editor

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Nephritis, also known as Bright's disease, can be acute or chronic. Treatment requires extensive and professional medical care.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate
Step1
Realize that Bright's disease is a general term used to describe a whole assortment of diseases that cause inflammation of the kidneys.
Step2
Understand that Bright's disease, left untreated, can cause degeneration of the kidney cells.
Step3
Know that nephritis is an inflammation of the nephrons, the smallest functional units of the kidneys, made up of a tight network of capillaries.
Step4
Understand that Bright's disease can also refer to glomerulonephritis, a kidney disease involving the glomeruli, the network of capillaries within the nephrons.
Step5
Consider that acute episodes of Bright's disease can produce proteins and blood in the urine, causing fluid retention and high blood pressure.
Step6
Be aware that chronic Bright's disease can cause irreversible kidney damage and possible kidney failure.
Step7
Realize that acute Bright's disease usually results from an infection, such as a streptococcal infection, that occurs somewhere else in the body. The kidney is not infected with the bacteria, but gets inflamed because of it.
Step8
Know that chronic Bright's disease may begin with an acute case of nephritis or a mild, prolonged reaction to an infection that is overlooked and eventually scars the glomeruli.

Tips & Warnings

  • If you have any questions or concerns, contact a physician or other health-care professional before engaging in any activity related to health and diet. This information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

Comments

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shotti

shotti said

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on 1/6/2007 thank you for this information. could this deasise have something to do with other people in the family coming up with auto immune difficieny diease.

i just found out that my grandfather died of this bright diease. my dad died of scaradosis and i have multiple scerlrosis.

and my dad's sister has just had some of her colgne removed.

its somthing elese founding out about your family at the age of 40.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 1/19/2006 My great uncle died of Bright's disease in the 1930's. My son, who is now 4 years old, was recently diagnosed with Dent's disease which is a hereditary condition described as X linked recessive nephrolithiasis. This condition is marked by proteinuria, hematuria, and occipital edema. These are some of the same trademarks of Bright's disease. It is my impression that my great uncle could have possibly died from Dent's disease. This information may be of use to someone with a child who has renal problems.

Anonymous

Anonymous said

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on 12/27/2007 My wife has this disease. It's treated with chemo and Procrit shots. This is a very dangerous disease and should be treated as such by a professional. Patients normally have a low red blood count. They're very weak and sleepy. I don't fully understand this myself, but she has professional help and has came a long way. She has the chronic type. I hope this was of some help to someone.

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eHow Article: How to Understand Bright's Disease

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eHow Health Editor

Category: Health

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