Learn About Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is scar tissue in the filtering unit of the kidney. This structure is called the glomerulus. The glomeruli serve as filters that help the body get rid of harmful substances. Each kidney has thousands of glomeruli.
"Focal" means that some of the glomeruli become scarred. Others remain normal. "Segmental" means that only part of an individual glomerulus is damaged.
Segmental glomerulosclerosis; Focal sclerosis with hyalinosis
The cause of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is often unknown.
The condition affects both children and adults. It occurs slightly more often in men and boys. It is also more common in African Americans. Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis causes up to a quarter of all cases of nephrotic syndrome.
Known causes include:
- Drugs such as heroin
- Infection
- Inherited genetic problems
- Medicines such as bisphosphonates and anabolic steroids
- Obesity
- Reflux nephropathy (a condition in which urine flows backward from the bladder to the kidney)
- Sickle cell disease
- Some medicines
Symptoms may include:
- Foamy urine (from excess protein in the urine)
- Poor appetite
- Swelling, called generalized edema, from fluids held in the body
- Weight gain
Treatments may include:
- Medicines to reduce the body's inflammatory response.
- Medicines to lower blood pressure. Some of these medicines also help reduce the amount of protein that spills into the urine.
- Medicines to get rid of excess fluid (diuretic or "water pill").
- Low sodium diet to reduce swelling and lower blood pressure.
The goal of treatment is to control the symptoms of nephrotic syndrome and prevent chronic kidney disease or failure. These treatments may include:
- Antibiotics to control infections
- Fluid restriction
- Low-fat diet
- Low- or moderate-protein diet
- Vitamin D supplements
- Dialysis
- Kidney transplant
Duke Children's Health Center Kidney Transplant Clinic
I am a pediatric nephrologist and work with children with kidney disease. Some of the conditions that we see include congenital malformations of the kidney and the bladder, nephrotic syndrome, glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the kidney filters), and children who are on dialysis or who received kidney transplantation because of kidney failure. I listen carefully to parents when they bring their children to the clinic because they know their children better than any other person, and they are the best advocates for their child. I collaborate a lot with the other doctors in the clinic. Rest assured, when you visit our clinic and I am not around, the doctor who is seeing you knows everything about your child. This is a group practice with a very caring multidisciplinary team. Dr. Gbadegesin is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis. His top areas of expertise are Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, Nephrotic Syndrome, Minimal Change Disease, Glomerulonephritis, and Kidney Transplant.
Thomas Benzing practices in Koeln, Germany. Mr. Benzing is rated as an Elite expert by MediFind in the treatment of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis. His top areas of expertise are Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, Polycystic Kidney Disease, Nephrotic Syndrome, Glomerulonephritis, and Kidney Transplant.
Ucsf Medical Group Business Services
Flavio Vincenti is a Nephrologist in San Francisco, California. Dr. Vincenti is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis. His top areas of expertise are Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis, Chronic Kidney Disease, Cytomegalovirus Infection, Cytomegalic Inclusion Disease, and Kidney Transplant.
A large portion of people with focal or segmental glomerulosclerosis will develop chronic kidney disease or kidney failure.
Complications may include:
- Chronic kidney disease or failure
- End-stage kidney disease
- Infection
- Malnutrition
- Nephrotic syndrome
Contact your provider if you develop symptoms of this condition, especially if there is:
- Fever
- Pain with urination
- Decreased urine output
No prevention is known.
Background: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a disease that causes scarring in parts of the kidneys that filter waste. This can lead to protein loss in the urine, which can worsen kidney function. The kidneys may fail over time, and dialysis or a kidney transplant may be needed. Other treatments for this disease do not always work and often have adverse effects. Better treatments for FSGS are need...
Summary: This is a parallel, Phase 2a, double-blind, 6-arm study for the treatment of primary focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) or primary minimal change disease (MCD). The purpose of this study is to measure the change in proteinuria and its impact on the rates of remission of nephrotic syndrome with frexalimab, SAR442970, or rilzabrutinib compared with placebo in participants with primary FSGS or...
Published Date: April 01, 2025
Published By: Walead Latif, MD, Nephrologist and Clinical Associate Professor, Rutgers Medical School, Newark, NJ. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Radhakrishnan J, Stokes MB. Glomerular disorders and nephrotic syndromes. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 107.
Saha MK, Pendergraft WF, Jennette JC, Falk RJ. Primary glomerular disease. In: Yu ASL, Chertow GM, Luyckx VA, Marsden PA, Skorecki K, Taal MW, eds. Brenner and Rector's The Kidney. 11th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 31.
Santoriello D, Radhakrishnan J, D'Agati VD. Primary and secondary (non-genetic) causes of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis. In: Johnson RJ, Floege J, Tonelli M, eds. Comprehensive Clinical Nephrology. 7th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 19.