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Signs & Symptoms of Bright's Disease

Nephritis is an inflammation of the blood vessels inside of the kidneys. When the inflammation is caused by a buildup of protein in the blood vessels it is called Bright's disease, after Richard Bright, the physician who first observed it.
Diagnosing Bright's disease is done through a urine test, which measures the buildup of plasma proteins in the urine stream.
Detecting it, however, is a little easier. As with other kidney diseases, the primary symptom of Bright's disease is pain.

  1. Pain

    • The inflammation of the blood vessels will lead to swelling of the kidneys. The kidneys, while not packed with nerve endings, are packed tightly into the lower core of the upper torso, in the same region as the stomach and upper digestive system and below the rib cage. When swelling builds up, so does back pain.

    Widespread Swelling and Weight Gain

    • The swollen kidneys will lead to fluid buildup in the body. Malfunctioning kidneys will lead to widespread puffiness and swelling throughout the body, especially in the face, neck and internal organs, as a result of water retention. The water retention would lead to an increase in body weight.

    Shortness of Breath

    • As the internal organs expand from added fluid in the body, the person with Bright's disease will have difficulty breathing. The water retention by organs in the upper torso, combined with the swelling inside of the body will lead to extra pressure around the diaphragm. This pressure will cut the capacity of each breath taken.

    Fatigue and Exhaustion

    • Restricted breathing leads to less oxygen in the bloodstream. Reduced oxygen levels in the blood starves the brain and vital organs of the necessary fuel, causing issues with concentration, mental and physical fatigue, and difficulty staying awake.

    Blood in the Urine

    • Malfunctioning kidneys leads to poor filtering of the bloodstream, the primary function of the renal system. With the reduced functioning of the kidneys, blood will likely be filtered and expelled from the body through the bladder along with other body waste.

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