Which condition is a characteristic of nephrotic syndrome in adults?

Nephrotic syndrome in adults is primarily characterized by glomerular injury, which leads to a reduction in the filtration barrier's effectiveness. This dysfunction in the glomeruli results in significant proteinuria, or the excessive excretion of protein in the urine, as the damaged glomeruli allow proteins that would typically be retained in the bloodstream to leak into the urine. This condition also causes hypoalbuminemia (low levels of albumin in blood), edema (swelling due to fluid retention), and hyperlipidemia (increased levels of lipids in the blood) as the body attempts to compensate for the loss of proteins.

While diabetic nephropathy is an important cause of nephrotic syndrome, it is not a defining characteristic but rather a specific etiology that can lead to such a syndrome in patients with diabetes. Acute kidney injury and acute tubular necrosis represent different types of renal impairment that do not specifically define nephrotic syndrome. Instead, they are typically associated with different pathophysiological processes affecting kidney function. Thus, the hallmark of nephrotic syndrome in adults centers around glomerular injury, making it central to understanding the syndrome’s manifestations and complications.