The treatment options for glomerulonephritis vary depending on the causes and severity of your symptoms. These include:
Medications and therapeutics
Your doctor may prescribe blood pressure medications, such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Angiotensin receptor blockers or ARBs, including losartan, irbesartan and valsartan, may also be prescribed. If your immune system is attacking your kidneys, corticosteroids and other medications to suppress the immune system may also be prescribed to reduce the immune response.
In addition, your doctor may also recommend plasmapheresis, a procedure to reduce immune-triggered inflammation. This method removes the fluid part of your blood, which is the plasma, and replaces it with intravenous fluids or donated plasma that contains no antibodies.
Dietary changes
Follow dietary changes advised by your doctor. This may include control of salt and water intake (to reduce fluid retention) and cutting back protein and potassium intake (to minimise waste accumulation in the body).
Surgery
If your condition becomes advanced and you develop kidney failure, dialysis or other forms of treatments to replace kidney function might be needed. Dialysis can help remove excess fluid and control high blood pressure for glomerulonephritis. When a kidney transplant is not possible due to poor general health or other reasons, haemodialysis, in which a machine filters your blood or peritoneal dialysis (also called as water dialysis), may be the only options for active management.
Conservative care or palliative care may be considered in select situations based on the patient's condition and preferences.
Speak to a specialist to find out the best treatment option for you.
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