What is a potential lab result in patients with nephrotic syndrome?

In patients with nephrotic syndrome, hyperlipidemia is a common laboratory finding. This condition leads to a significant alteration in lipid metabolism due to the loss of proteins such as albumin in the urine. The reduction in serum albumin levels triggers the liver to increase the production of lipoproteins, resulting in elevated levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the bloodstream. This hyperlipidemia is one of the hallmark features associated with nephrotic syndrome.

The other potential lab results listed do not directly correlate with nephrotic syndrome in the same way. For example, increased blood calcium levels are not typically a consequence of nephrotic syndrome; rather, they might relate to other conditions such as hyperparathyroidism or certain malignancies. Elevated blood glucose levels generally point to conditions related to diabetes or stress responses rather than nephrotic syndrome itself. Conversely, decreased hemoglobin may be observed in renal failure or chronic disease but is not a primary feature of nephrotic syndrome, which primarily affects protein levels rather than causing direct anemia. Thus, hyperlipidemia stands out as a key lab result associated with nephrotic syndrome.