[Nephrotic Syndrome in Adult Patients--Etiology and Complications]

The nephrotic syndrome (NS) in adult patients is a rare entity. It is characterized by a tetrad consisting of edema, proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia and hypercholesterolemia. NS can be caused by intrinsic glomerular disorders or secondary damage to the glomerulus triggered by systemic diseases, infections or drugs. The responsibility of the primary care physician is to distinguish NS from other edematous disorders. Patients should be referred to a nephrologist for further diagnosis and treatment. NS is associated with various complications. Affected individuals are prone to infections and may suffer from thrombophilia, acute renal failure and Vitamin D deficiency. Immunosuppressive therapy of the underlying disorder may cause late onset complications such as skin cancer or urothelial carcinoma. Aside from causative therapy adequate management of these complications is crucial for the treatment of patients suffering from NS.