The syndrome can be Acute (serum creatinine rises over many weeks or less) Chronic (renal insufficiency may progress over years) Nephritic syndrome can also be Primary (idiopathic) Secondary Table Acute glomerulonephritis Postinfectious glomerulonephritis is the prototype of acute glomerulonephritis, but the condition may be caused by other glomerulopathies and by systemic disorders such as systemic rheumatic diseases and hematologic dyscrasias (see table).