Nephrotic syndrome is a condition characterized by very high levels of protein lost in urine and abnormally low levels of protein in the blood due to glomerular damage.

• A. Edema
• B. Nephrosis
• C. Nephrotic syndrome
• D. Uremia

Answer: (C)

The key idea is nephrotic syndrome, which is defined by heavy protein loss in urine (proteinuria) and low blood protein (hypoalbuminemia) due to damage to the glomerular filtration barrier. When a lot of protein leaks into the urine, blood levels of albumin fall, reducing oncotic pressure in the vessels. That drop allows fluid to shift into the interstitial spaces, producing edema. The liver then often increases lipoprotein production, leading to hyperlipidemia, a common accompanying feature. While edema is a major sign of this condition, it is a consequence rather than the disease name itself. Uremia refers to a buildup of waste products from kidney failure and is not specific to heavy protein loss in urine. Nephrosis is an older term that’s sometimes used synonymously, but the precise name for this cluster of findings is nephrotic syndrome.