VB
Vikas Bhardwaj
Medical Technologist, AIIMS New Delhi
Updated: Apr 17, 2026
**Core Concept**
The patient's presentation of generalized swelling, grade 3 proteinuria, and the presence of hyaline and fatty casts in the urine is indicative of nephrotic syndrome, a condition characterized by excessive loss of protein in the urine, leading to hypoalbuminemia and edema.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
Nephrotic syndrome is typically caused by damage to the glomerular capillary walls, allowing large molecules like albumin to pass through the filtration barrier and into the urine. The presence of hyaline and fatty casts in the urine supports this diagnosis, as these casts are formed from the precipitation of proteins and lipids in the renal tubules. The absence of hematuria suggests that the condition is not due to an inflammatory or proliferative glomerulonephritis.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is not mentioned, as the correct answer is missing.
**Option B:** This option is not relevant to the patient's presentation of nephrotic syndrome.
**Option C:** This option may be true for some patients with nephrotic syndrome, but it is not a defining characteristic of the condition.
**Option D:** This option may be a complication of nephrotic syndrome, but it is not a direct consequence of the condition.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
Nephrotic syndrome is often associated with an increased risk of thromboembolic events due to the loss of anticoagulant proteins in the urine, such as antithrombin III. This is a critical consideration in the management of patients with nephrotic syndrome.
**Correct Answer:** C.