Nephritis

Overview
Nephritis is inflammation of the kidney. The word comes from the Greek nephro- meaning "of the kidney" and -itis meaning "inflammation". Nephritis is often caused by infections, toxins, and auto-immune diseases.

Subtypes

 * Glomerulonephritis is inflammation of the glomeruli. (Often when the term "nephritis" is used without qualification, this is the condition meant.)
 * Interstitial nephritis or tubulo-interstitial nephritis is inflammation is of the spaces between renal tubules.
 * Pyelonephritis is when a urinary tract infection has reached the pyelum (pelvis) of the kidney.
 * Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidney caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease of the immune system.