
Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions β written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Nephritis
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Nephritis is inflammation of the kidney. The word comes from the Greek nephro- meaning “of the kidney” and -itis meaning “inflammation”. Nephritis is often caused by infections, toxins, and auto-immune diseases.
Subtypes
Subtypes
- Glomerulonephritis is inflammation of the glomeruli. (Often when the term “nephritis” is used without qualification, this is the condition meant.)
- Interstitial nephritis or tubulo-interstitial nephritis is inflammation is of the spaces between renal tubules.
- Pyelonephritis is when a urinary tract infection has reached the pyelum (pelvis) of the kidney.
- Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidney caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease of the immune system.
Related Chapters
Related Chapters
bg:ΠΠ΅ΡΡΠΈΡ
de:Nephritis
it:Nefrite
nl:Nefritis
fi:Munuaistulehdus
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
