Nephritis is inflammation of the kidneys. It may involve the glomeruli, tubules, or interstitial tissue surrounding the glomeruli and tubules.[1]
Nephritis is often caused by infections, and toxins, but is most commonly caused by autoimmune disorders that affect the major organs like kidneys.[2]
Nephritis can produce glomerular injury, by disturbing the glomerular structure with inflammatory cell proliferation.[3] This can lead to reduced glomerular blood flow, leading to reduced urine output (oliguria)[4] and retention of waste products (uremia).[5] As a result, red blood cells may leak out of damaged glomeruli, causing blood to appear in the urine (hematuria).[6]