Acute or chronic glomerulonephritis may result in the disorder. Also, any abnormality that causes an increase in the pressure of blood in the veins leaving the kidney produces congestion in the kidney tissue. This can happen in heart failure or following a thrombosis in the renal vein. It may also be caused by a reaction to drug treatment. In rare cases, the disorder may be present at birth or occur spontaneously in early childhood.
Nephrotic syndrome requires careful and skilled attention from a specialist in kidney disease.
The more serious cases make treatment difficult, and the outcome may be fatal. Corticosteroid drugs are particularly useful in one type of nephrotic syndrome that commonly affects children. Immunosuppressive or cytotoxic therapy is sometimes effective in certain other types. Diuretic drugs help reduce the swelling of edema, but do not treat the underlying causes. For example, eyes respond to light, and ears respond to sound.