Skip to main content
nephritis

nephritis

1 7.5
A swelling and soreness of the kidneys often caused by infection or immune problems
  • noun
  • /nəˈfraɪtɪs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : nefritis
  • Doctors diagnosed him with nephritis, explaining that it was due to an autoimmune reaction.
  • lymphocytic nephritis
  • lupus nephritis
  • interstitial nephritis

Examples

  • A renal biopsy was scheduled to document the pathologic nature of her lupus nephritis.

    Academic text (2007)
  • Nephritis is a kidney disease.

  • A kidney biopsy sample showed lymphocytic interstitial nephritis without any glomerular abnormalities.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Renal biopsy revealed membranous lupus nephritis (WHO class V). (See WHO classification below.)

    Academic text (2007)
  • Lupus nephritis was diagnosed based on renal biopsy results and proteinuria. 41-43, 59, 62 #

    Academic text (2017)
  • Nephritis causes inflammation and pain in the kidneys, often requiring medical treatment.

  • She was hospitalized after suffering from nephritis, which severely affected her kidney function.

Synonyms

kidney disease
vsnephritis
11 2.8

A long-lasting illness where the kidneys are damaged and do not work well

is inflammation caused by infection, toxins, or autoimmune processes rather than all causes
pyelonephritis
vsnephritis
  • Specialized
1 9.9

An infection of the kidney that causes pain, fever, and problems when you pee

is inflammation that can have other noninfectious causes
Bright's disease
vsnephritis
  • Archaic
1 7.9

An old name for a kidney illness that causes swelling and protein in the urine

is the modern medical term rather than this historical label
glomerulonephritis
vsnephritis
  • Specialized
1 9.9

Inflammation of the tiny kidney filters that causes blood and protein to appear in urine

is a broader inflammation of the whole organ rather than only filters
nephropathy
vsnephritis
  • Specialized
1 8.1

A disease that damages the kidneys

is focused specifically on inflammatory causes rather than any kidney disease
renal disorder
vsnephritis
  • Specialized
1 5.3

A health problem that affects the kidneys

is specifically inflammation of the organ, not all abnormal kidney conditions
acute pyelonephritis
vsnephritis
  • Specialized
5.8

A sudden severe kidney infection that happens when bacteria move up from the bladder

is inflammation that may be slower or less sudden in onset
chronic pyelonephritis
vsnephritis
  • Specialized
7.4

A long-lasting kidney infection that can cause serious kidney damage

is inflammation that often starts quickly rather than over a long period

How Severe

acute pyelonephritis
  • Specialized
5.8
nephritis
  • Specialized
1 7.5

Surface Forms

nephritis singular
nephritides plural

Morphology

nephritis = nephron (opaque) = nephr + itis

The term 'nephritis' is opaque as it relies on specialized medical terminology not immediately recognizable to general English learners.

Etymology

Nephritis comes from two Greek parts: nephr- meaning 'kidney' and -itis meaning 'inflammation', the same ending you see in tonsillitis or arthritis; so nephritis is simply inflammation of the kidneys.