Treatment for glomerulonephritis depends on what's causing it and your symptoms.
If you have severe glomerulonephritis, you’ll usually be referred to a kidney specialist (nephrologist) for treatment).
Dietary changes
In mild cases, a GP or dietitian will give you relevant advice about diet.
You may be advised to:
- reduce the amount of salt, fat, protein and potassium in your diet
- drink less fluid
This should help control your blood pressure and ensure the amount of fluid in your body is regulated.
You should have regular reviews to check your blood pressure, the levels of salt and potassium in your pee and how well your kidneys are working.
Stopping smoking
Smoking may make kidney disease caused by glomerulonephritis worse.
It also increases the risk of complications like heart disease and stroke, which are more common in people with glomerulonephritis.
Immunosuppressants
If glomerulonephritis is caused by problems with your immune system, medicines called immunosuppressants may be recommended. These medicines suppress your immune system.
Suppressing your immune system can be effective, but it also increases your risk of infections and can cause other side effects, such as thinning of the bones (osteoporosis)
If you're offered treatment with immunosuppressant medicines, they'll be adjusted to the level needed to treat your condition and will be carefully monitored.
Steroids
You may be put on a course of medicines containing steroids such as prednisolone.
Steroids are used to reduce swelling and suppress your immune system.
Once your kidneys have started to recover, your dose of steroids will usually be lowered. You may continue to take a small dose, or this treatment may be stopped altogether.
Other medicines
If you take immunosuppressants or steroids to suppress your immune system, you may also be given medicines to help prevent side effects such as infections and osteoporosis.
If your condition is thought to be linked to a viral infection, it may be treated with antiviral medicine.
Individual symptoms can sometimes be treated. For example, swelling caused by a build-up of fluid may be treated with a type of medicine called a diuretic.
Treating high blood pressure
Glomerulonephritis often leads to high blood pressure, which can cause further kidney damage and other health problems.
Your blood pressure will be carefully monitored by the healthcare professionals treating you.
You may need to take medicines that lower blood pressure and help reduce the amount of protein that leaks into your urine, such as either:
- an angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors
- an angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB)
Often, people who have high blood pressure and kidney disease need to take several medicines to control their blood pressure.
These medicines are commonly prescribed, even if your blood pressure is not particularly high, as they can help protect your kidneys.
Treating high cholesterol
High cholesterol levels are common in people with glomerulonephritis.
A doctor may recommend medicine to reduce cholesterol and help protect you against complications such as heart and vascular disease. Statins are the most frequently used medicine.
Plasma exchange
Plasma is a fluid that is part of the blood. It contains proteins that can make your kidneys inflamed.
Plasma exchange involves removing some of the plasma from your blood.
During the procedure, you're connected to a machine that gradually removes some of your blood.
The plasma is separated from the blood cells and removed. A plasma substitute is then added to the blood before it's put back into your body.
Plasma exchange may be used in certain circumstances if your condition is severe.
Treating chronic kidney disease or kidney failure
If you have severe glomerulonephritis that cannot be improved with other treatments, you may require:
- kidney dialysis – a treatment that takes over part of the kidney's job and removes waste products from your body
- a kidney transplant – where a healthy kidney from a donor is surgically implanted to replace your own kidney
Vaccinations
As glomerulonephritis can make you more vulnerable to infections, it's a good idea to protect yourself by having a seasonal flu vaccine and a pneumonia vaccine (also called the pneumococcal vaccine).
Page last reviewed: 13 April 2023
Next review due: 13 April 2026