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Zhou Qi
Nephrology
About me
An associate chief physician in the Nephrology Department of the People's Hospital of Ma'anshan City, with a Master's degree from a key medical university. Participated or led multiple projects funded by the Natural Science Foundation, and published nearly ten papers in Chinese and core journals.
Proficient in diseases
Glomerular diseases, diabetic nephropathy, lupus nephritis, blood purification.
Voices
Which department to see for diabetic nephropathy?
In principle, patients with diabetic nephropathy should seek treatment in the nephrology department of a formal public hospital. Diabetes occurs when there is an absolute deficiency or relative insufficiency in insulin secretion, leading to a state characterized by high blood sugar and various metabolic waste disorders. Such a syndrome can cause damage to multiple organs. The kidneys are a major target organ for damage, and as kidney disease develops, patients may experience proteinuria and potentially progress to renal failure. Therefore, to treat and protect kidney function, it is advised that patients with diabetic nephropathy seek care in the nephrology department of a formal public hospital, where nephrologists can devise a more reasonable treatment plan.
early symptoms of chronic renal failure
Patients with chronic kidney failure often do not have any specific discomfort or noticeable symptoms in the early stages. However, some patients may exhibit clinical signs, such as edema, due to the kidneys' reduced ability to excrete water, or hypoproteinemia, which leads to a decrease in plasma colloid osmotic pressure, resulting in edema in the lower limbs or eyelids, and facial swelling. Patients may also experience visible blood in the urine, increased urinary foam, and chronic kidney failure often accompanies high blood pressure. Such patients may also suffer from mild renal anemia, hyperkalemia, and other clinical manifestations.
Is nephrotic syndrome nauseating?
Nephrotic syndrome generally does not cause symptoms of nausea. Nephrotic syndrome refers to the damage to the glomerular capillaries of the patient, with the patient's 24-hour urinary protein quantification exceeding 3.5 grams, which indicates a substantial presence of urinary protein. This disease can cause edema in various parts of the body, such as the lower limbs, eyelids, and facial area. However, it generally does not cause digestive symptoms such as nausea and vomiting. If a patient exhibits such symptoms, it is necessary to be cautious as it may indicate the onset of acute renal failure due to nephrotic syndrome, or the presence of acute inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. Patients with nephrotic syndrome generally may experience edema in the gastrointestinal tract, which could cause nausea, and it is important to be cautious of the possibility of other underlying causes.
Is a cold dangerous for membranous nephropathy?
Patients with membranous nephropathy becoming ill with a cold is indeed quite dangerous. This is because, firstly, a cold often leads to the relapse or aggravation of membranous nephropathy, causing changes in the condition of the disease. Secondly, patients with membranous nephropathy often use corticosteroids and immunosuppressants to control the disease, and a major side effect of these medications is that they suppress the body's immune capability, making infections more likely to occur. Once an infection sets in, it can lead to septic shock and the inflammation of multiple organs, with potentially life-threatening consequences for some patients.
How to maintain health with nephrotic syndrome
Patients with nephrotic syndrome should pay attention to maintenance because nephrotic syndrome is a chronic disease. Even if the condition is well controlled, it can still recur or worsen under certain circumstances. First and foremost, patients should avoid various inflammations, including infections of the upper respiratory tract, enteritis, skin infections, ulcers, etc. Patients should avoid getting cold, avoid contact with people who have colds, and wear masks in crowded places. Avoid eating raw, unhygienic food to prevent diarrhea and enteritis. Patients should also limit their salt intake, and it is recommended that their daily salt intake be controlled between 3 and 6 grams.
How is acute pyelonephritis treated?
Acute pyelonephritis is a problem caused by an infection, also known as an upper urinary tract infection. Therefore, the treatment plan for this disease should be based on the pathogen. The vast majority of acute pyelonephritis is caused by bacterial inflammation, so antibiotics are often required. It is generally recommended that patients should receive intravenous antibiotic treatment to kill the bacteria, choosing the antibiotics sensitive to the results of urine culture. After 10 to 14 days of treatment, the condition of acute pyelonephritis can usually be controlled in most cases. The patient's body temperature will gradually decrease, symptoms of back pain will ease, and the white blood cells in the urine will also disappear. Only a very few cases of acute pyelonephritis are difficult to treat because such patients may have predisposing factors to urinary tract infection such as diabetes and urinary system stones. (Specific medication use should be conducted under the guidance of a doctor.)
Does kidney cancer cause fever?
Kidney cancer itself generally does not cause fever. Kidney cancer is a malignant tumor, and the most common clinical manifestation in patients is hematuria. As this malignant tumor grows larger, it may eventually rupture and bleed, leading patients to notice the formation of blood in the urine. Some patients may also be able to feel a mass in the abdomen. In severe cases of kidney cancer, it may lead to reduced urine output due to kidney failure. These symptoms are common manifestations of kidney cancer. Kidney cancer itself is unlikely to cause a fever, but due to the presence of kidney cancer, changes in the tissue structure of the kidney can occur, making infections more likely. When an infection occurs, it may also cause a fever, but this fever is not directly caused by the kidney cancer itself.
Does uremia cause blood in urine?
Patients with uremia may experience hematuria, but not all patients will do so. Uremia refers to a condition where over 90% of the patient's kidney tissue has been damaged. Due to the destruction of kidney tissue, when blood passes through the kidneys, it is indeed possible that red blood cells will leak from the glomeruli into the urine. Therefore, patients with uremia may exhibit signs of hematuria, especially those caused by primary chronic glomerulonephritis. If the uremia is caused by tumors or kidney stones leading to urinary obstruction, this situation can cause bleeding in the ureters or bladder, also resulting in hematuria. However, most patients with uremia have a very low chance of experiencing hematuria because the vast majority of their kidney tissue has been destroyed, even up to 100%, leaving no urine production, and thus no blood in the urine. If an anuric patient exhibits hematuria, the possibility of stones, tumors, or urinary tract infections should be considered.
Is acute nephritis prone to "excessive internal heat"?
Acute nephritis indeed tends to cause "fire-up," which refers to the viral infection in patients. Typically, the appearance of herpes on the upper lip is colloquially known as "fire-up," but in reality, this is an active manifestation of the herpes virus when the body's immune capacity is low. The human body often carries this virus, and symptoms appear when immunity is low. In the state of acute nephritis, it is easy to result in reduced immunity in patients, thus activating the dormant virus in the body, causing herpes in corresponding areas including the upper lip and corners of the mouth.
Can diabetic nephropathy patients eat kelp?
Patients with diabetic nephropathy should avoid eating seafood, including various types of sea fish, shellfish, as well as seaweed, kelp, and so on. This is because these seafood products contain a certain amount of purines, and some foods have a high purine content. When purines enter the human body, they are metabolized and eventually converted into uric acid, which needs to be excreted by the kidneys. Patients with kidney disease have decreased ability to excrete uric acid, and the accumulation of uric acid may cause further damage to the kidneys and also affect the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. Therefore, generally speaking, it is advised that patients with diabetic nephropathy should avoid eating kelp. However, if the patient’s condition is in the early stages and kidney function is still normal, consuming some kelp in moderation generally should not be a problem, but it should not be consumed in large amounts.