Kidney scarring is a complication of kidney disease. While it rarely causes pain, it can be a sign of kidney failure. It occurs when infection occurs within the kidney tissue. A urinary tract infection is a common cause of kidney scarring. The scars may appear on imaging tests, but are usually harmless.
The progression of kidney scarring depends on interactions between injured resident renal cells and infiltrating cells. Most of these cells are inflammatory cells. When injured, these inflammatory cells release proinflammatory cytokines and growth factors. They then migrate to the glomerular capillaries and initiate a microinflammatory response. In addition, these cells may release cytokines, which stimulate platelets to adhere to them.
One diagnostic technique for kidney scarring is CEUS. This is a quick, safe, and cost-effective method that may be appropriate for children with impaired renal function. It can also be used to monitor renal scarring longitudinally. This technique is also a promising option for detecting renal scarring without the use of sedation.
Researchers at the Abigail Wexner Research Institute in Ohio recently examined how immune cells affect renal scarring. They found that neutrophils and monocyte-derived macrophages contribute to renal scarring. In addition to being important for infection clearance, these cells also contribute to the formation of scar tissue and loss of kidney function.
Kidney scarring is the result of a variety of diseases, including glomerulonephritis and nephrotic syndrome. The affected area of the kidney may be scattered or may have a cluster of scarred glomeruli. It can occur at any age, though most often occurs in children.
Research has shown that scarring in the kidneys may have long-term effects on kidney function. One study exposed test tube kidney replicas to COVID-19 virus found that the infected organs had a high risk of scarring. This suggests that scarring in the kidneys may be the cause of kidney disease.
High blood pressure and diabetes put people at risk of kidney damage. These conditions affect the immune system and inhibit kidney function. If left untreated, kidney scarring can lead to kidney failure and kidney disease. If this happens, a person may have to undergo surgery. Once the kidneys are damaged, however, they cannot be repaired.
The kidney is an important organ in the body. It filters the blood and removes waste. Blood enters the kidney through arteries and branched into looping blood vessels. In a healthy kidney, this process allows the waste products and extra water to pass. The kidneys process this waste and create urine. When the kidneys become damaged, the blood becomes toxic. A kidney that does not filter the blood properly can cause kidney failure.