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Correct Answer: decreased glomerular permeability
nephrotic syndrome is a kidney disorder that causes the body to excrete too much protein in the urine. this condition is distinct from other forms of kidney disease, primarily due to its characteristic symptoms and underlying mechanisms affecting the glomeruli, which are the tiny blood-filtering units within the kidney.
among the key features of nephrotic syndrome are increased glomerular permeability, marked proteinuria, hypoalbuminemia, and edema. each of these symptoms contributes to the clinical presentation and complications associated with the syndrome.
increased glomerular permeability refers to the heightened ability of fluids and smaller molecules, particularly proteins, to pass through the glomeruli. in healthy kidneys, the glomeruli prevent large molecules like proteins from passing into the urine. however, in nephrotic syndrome, the glomerular walls are damaged, which allows proteins to escape into the urine, leading to proteinuria.
proteinuria, or the presence of significant amounts of protein in the urine, is a hallmark of nephrotic syndrome. the loss of proteins, especially albumin (the most abundant protein in the blood), from the blood into the urine is what leads to hypoalbuminemia—another key feature of nephrotic syndrome. albumin helps maintain blood volume and pressure by exerting osmotic pressure, which keeps fluid within the blood vessels.
hypoalbuminemia results in decreased plasma osmotic pressure, which allows fluid to leak out of blood vessels into surrounding tissues, causing edema. this swelling commonly affects the feet, ankles, and around the eyes, but it can also lead to an accumulation of fluid in the abdomen (ascites) and in the pleural cavity (pleural effusion).
given these characteristics, the correct answer to the question about what is not a characteristic of nephrotic syndrome is "decreased glomerular permeability." in fact, nephrotic syndrome is specifically marked by increased glomerular permeability, which is directly opposed to the option provided. therefore, decreased glomerular permeability would not be a correct description of the changes occurring in nephrotic syndrome, making it the correct answer to the question regarding what nephrotic syndrome is not characterized by.
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