Nephrotic Syndrome vs Nephritic Syndrome
Nephrotic Syndrome and Nephritic Syndrome are easy to mix up on the boards. Here's a side-by-side comparison — presentation, workup, imaging, and first-line treatment — drawn from our full outlines.
Nephrotic Syndrome vs Nephritic Syndrome at a glance
- Nephrotic Syndrome: Heavy proteinuria (>3.5 g/day) with hypoalbuminemia, edema, and hyperlipidemia.
- Nephritic Syndrome: Glomerular inflammation with hematuria, RBC casts, hypertension, and mild-to-moderate proteinuria.
Keep comparing — start your free trial
You've used your 2 free previews. Create your free account to see the full Nephrotic Syndrome vs Nephritic Syndrome comparison — plus all 514 diagnosis outlines, 5,500+ board-style questions, and an AI tutor. Your 7-day free trial includes everything, no credit card required.
Side-by-side comparison
| Feature | Nephrotic Syndrome | Nephritic Syndrome |
|---|---|---|
| At a glance | Heavy proteinuria (>3.5 g/day) with hypoalbuminemia, edema, and hyperlipidemia. | Glomerular inflammation with hematuria, RBC casts, hypertension, and mild-to-moderate proteinuria. |
| Classic presentation | Periorbital edema in a child = consider minimal change disease until proven otherwise.; Insidious or rapid-onset peripheral edema — periorbital in morning,… | Tea-colored urine plus periorbital edema and hypertension in a child 1-3 weeks after sore throat — classic for post-streptococcal GN.; Cola-colored,… |
| Workup / key labs | Nephrotic syndrome diagnosed by: proteinuria >3.5 g/day, hypoalbuminemia <3.0 g/dL, edema, hyperlipidemia. Kidney biopsy is standard in adults to determine… | Nephritic syndrome = hematuria (often gross) with RBC casts and dysmorphic RBCs + variable proteinuria + hypertension + azotemia. Kidney biopsy is the… |
| Imaging | Renal ultrasound — assess size, exclude obstruction; Echocardiogram if HF suspected as alternative edema cause | Renal ultrasound to assess size and exclude obstruction; Chest imaging if pulmonary symptoms or suspected pulmonary-renal syndrome |
| First-line treatment | Treat underlying cause — glycemic control in diabetes, antiviral for hepatitis, withdraw offending drug; ACEi (lisinopril, ramipril, enalapril) or ARB… | Treat underlying etiology — antibiotics for active infection, immunosuppression for autoimmune cause; BP control: ACEi or ARB (lisinopril, losartan); avoid in… |
Drill Nephrotic Syndrome vs Nephritic Syndrome questions on FirstPassPA
Turn this comparison into retention. 5,500+ board-style questions with an AI tutor that explains every answer — free to start, no card required.
Start studying free → Try today's free questionEducational use only. This outline is a study aid for PA students and is not medical advice or a substitute for clinical judgment. FirstPassPA is an independent study tool and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by NCCPA. PANCE® and PANRE® are registered trademarks of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.