Ellen, a 47-year-old woman who has suffered kidney disease for several years, has been diagnosed with proteinuria. Her legs and feet are so swollen that she has difficulty walking. Her hands and her left arm are also swollen

What is proteinuria, and could this condition be playing a role in her swollen limbs?
What will be an ideal response


Proteinuria is a condition in which the permeability of the glomerular capillaries is increased to such an extent that large amounts of plasma proteins (mostly albumin) pass into the glomerular filtrate and are excreted in the urine. If the condition is severe, the loss of plasma proteins may decrease osmotic pressure substantially. When this happens there is a tendency for fluid to leave the systemic blood vessels and enter the tissue space. This is the reason for Ellen's swollen limbs.

Anatomy & Physiology

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