IV Therapy For Nephritis

Nephritis is a condition in which the nephrons, the functional units of the kidneys, become inflamed. This inflammation, also called glomerulonephritis, can adversely affect kidney function. Nephritis is not an illness in and of itself; it is a condition that develops as a result of an underlying autoimmune disease like lupus or vasculitis, or because of a viral or bacterial infection, or from taking certain medications or their overuse.

Some types of nephritis occur suddenly, while others develop as part of a chronic condition and require ongoing management. Acute glomerulonephritis, for example, can develop suddenly after a severe infection like strep throat, hepatitis or HIV. Nephritis resulting from lupus, vasculitides and granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), on the other hand, can tend to progress more slowly.

The symptoms of nephritis are rarely severe in the early stages. The following signs may indicate that a person has the condition:

 changes in urinating habits
 swelling anywhere in the body, especially the hands, feet, ankles and face
 changes in urine color
 foamy urine
 blood in the urine

Some of the more common types of nephritis include: 

Alport syndrome, or hereditary nephritis: This disease can lead to kidney failure, as well as vision and hearing problems. Alport syndrome is passed on in the genes, and it is usually more severe in men.

Chronic glomerulonephritis: This form of nephritis develops slowly and causes few symptoms in its early stages.

Chronic glomerulonephritis can cause severe kidney damage and kidney failure. It may run in families or develop after a sudden disease.

IgA nephropathy: One of the most common forms of nephritis, it develops when IgA antibody deposits build up in the kidneys and cause inflammation.

Interstitial nephritis: Often developing very rapidly, this form of nephritis usually occurs due to infection or a particular medication. It affects the part of the kidney called the interstitium, which is a fluid-filled space.

Risk factors of nephritis include:
 a family history of kidney disease
 high blood pressure
 diabetes
 obesity
 heart disease
 60 years of age or older

At Heartland Infusion Pharmacy, we provide IV therapy for nephritis as prescribed by your physician. Two of the more commonly prescribed IV infused medications
are:

Benlysta: An immunosuppressive medication used to treat people with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) or active lupus nephritis (lupus-related kidney inflammation) who are receiving other lupus medications.

Rituximab: Used to treat several medical conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, Hodgkin’s lymphoma and chronic kidney disease. Rituximab reduces the number of white blood cells called B lymphocytes, which are responsible for creating antibodies that cause kidneys to malfunction.

While there can be side effects to IV therapy medications used to treat nephritis, at
Heartland Infusion Pharmacy, we closely monitor our patients during treatments and
are just a phone call away from both you and your physician when you leave our facility.

At Heartland, we provide infusion therapy for patients with chronic conditions and for
general wellness. We can procure the medications mentioned and other physician-
prescribed infusions quickly and cost effectively. If infusion therapy for nephritis interests you, please contact us for information about our services or to inquire about specific medications. Our healthcare professionals are committed to making your infusion therapy experience comfortable and easy.