Nephrotic syndrome is defined by which triad?

Nephrotic syndrome is defined by which triad?

• A. Edema, proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia
• B. Edema, hematuria, hypertension
• C. Hyponatremia, edema, hypovitaminosis
• D. Polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss

Answer: (A)

Nephrotic syndrome centers on the loss of large amounts of protein in the urine, which drops the blood’s protein levels and shifts fluid into the tissues. The defining triad is edema, heavy proteinuria, and hypoalbuminemia. Edema comes from the decreased plasma oncotic pressure due to low albumin, and it’s often accompanied by compensatory sodium retention that worsens fluid buildup. Proteinuria is typically heavy (often >3.5 g/day) because the glomerular filtration barrier becomes excessively permeable to proteins like albumin. Hypoalbuminemia results directly from the urinary loss of albumin. Hyperlipidemia can also appear in nephrotic syndrome, but it’s not part of the triad. The other listed features—hematuria and hypertension—are more characteristic of nephritic processes, while hyponatremia, hypovitaminosis, polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss do not define nephrotic syndrome.

Nephrotic syndrome centers on the loss of large amounts of protein in the urine, which drops the blood’s protein levels and shifts fluid into the tissues. The defining triad is edema, heavy proteinuria, and hypoalbuminemia. Edema comes from the decreased plasma oncotic pressure due to low albumin, and it’s often accompanied by compensatory sodium retention that worsens fluid buildup. Proteinuria is typically heavy (often >3.5 g/day) because the glomerular filtration barrier becomes excessively permeable to proteins like albumin. Hypoalbuminemia results directly from the urinary loss of albumin.

Hyperlipidemia can also appear in nephrotic syndrome, but it’s not part of the triad. The other listed features—hematuria and hypertension—are more characteristic of nephritic processes, while hyponatremia, hypovitaminosis, polyuria, polydipsia, and weight loss do not define nephrotic syndrome.