Common signs are also due to loss of blood proteins by the glomerulus of the kidney, including:
FSGS can be classified by the putative cause of damage to podocytes. Primary FSGS involves cases in which no cause is readily identifiable. It is presumed that a set of unidentified circulating factors in the blood contribute to podocyte damage in these cases.
Secondary FSGS is caused by an identifiable stress or toxin that injures podocytes. Many causes of secondary FSGS contribute to podocyte injury through hyperfiltration, which is a scenario of excess filtration by renal glomeruli. Hyperfiltration can be caused by obesity, diabetes or loss of the contralateral kidney, among other causes.
Secondary FSGS can also be caused by toxins, including anabolic steroids and heroin.
The pathogenesis of HIV-associated FSGS is unclear, but may be due to the presence of the G1/G2 risk alleles of the APOL1 gene. There is some data to suggest that HIV can infect tubular epithelial cells and podocytes, but much remains to be known.
Other tests helpful in the diagnosis include urine protein, urinalysis, serum albumin, and serum lipids. A clinical picture of proteinuria, low blood protein levels (albumin, antibodies), and high blood cholesterol would support a diagnosis of FSGS, although these do not help to distinguish between FSGS and other causes of proteinuria.
Five mutually exclusive variants of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis may be distinguished by the pathologic findings seen on renal biopsy:
First-line treatment for primary FSGS consists of anti-inflammatory drugs. Specifically, glucocorticoids are begun in patients manifesting with nephrotic-range proteinuria (>3.5 g/day). For patients who maintain nephrotic-range proteinuria despite glucocorticoids, or for patients who demonstrate glucocorticoid intolerance, calcineurin inhibitors (e.g., tacrolimus) are initiated. Successful treatment is defined as a drop in proteinuria to sub-nephrotic ranges.
The treatment of secondary FSGS involves addressing the particular toxic or stress agent.
Initial response to therapy also dictates long-term outcomes. Those defined as having a "complete response" typically manifest a proteinuria of <300 mg/day; those with a "partial response" manifest a sub-nephrotic range of proteinuria, <3.5 g/day. Either complete or partial response is associated with 80% kidney survival at 10 years, compared with about 50% among non-responsive patients.
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