Description

Lupus nephritis is a problem that often occurs in people who have systemic lupus erythematosus, also called lupus.

Lupus is a disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own cells and organs, is called autoimmune disease. Lupus causes the immune system to proteins called autoantibodies. These proteins attack the tissues and organs of the body, including the kidneys.

Lupus nephritis occurs when the lupus autoantibodies affect parts of the kidneys, which filter waste. This causes the inflammation and irritation of the kidneys, called inflammation. It can lead to blood in the urine, protein in the urine, high blood pressure, the kidneys do not work well, or even kidney failure.

Symptoms

The signs and symptoms of lupus nephritis include:

  • Blood in the urine.
  • The urine foams due to an excess of protein.
  • The high blood pressure.
  • Swelling in the legs, ankles, or feet and sometimes on the hands and the face.
  • High levels of a waste product called creatinine in the blood.

Causes

Half of adults with systemic lupus obtain lupus nephritis. Systemic Lupus causes the body's immune system to cause damage to the kidneys. Then, the kidneys cannot filter wastes as they should.

Risk factors

The only known risk factor for lupus nephritis are:

  • The fact of being a man. Women are more likely to have lupus, but men suffer from lupus nephritis more than women.
  • Race or ethnic origin. Blacks, Hispanics, and Asian-Americans are more likely to have lupus nephritis than whites.

Complications

Lupus nephritis can cause:

  • Hypertension.
  • The renal failure.
  • A higher risk of getting cancer, especially one that begins in the cells of the immune system, called B-cell lymphoma.
  • An increased risk of heart disease and blood vessel problems.

Diagnosis

Tests used to diagnose lupus nephritis include:

  • Blood and urine tests. In addition to the usual blood and urine tests, urine collected during 24 hours can be tested. These tests measure how well the kidneys are working.
  • The renal biopsy. A small section of kidney tissue is removed and sent to a laboratory. This test diagnoses of lupus nephritis. It can also help to show how bad the disease. There may be more than one biopsy through the time.

Treatment

There is No cure for lupus nephritis. The goal of treatment is to:

  • To reduce the symptoms or make symptoms go away, call the referral.
  • To prevent the disease from getting worse.
  • Prevent symptoms from coming back.
  • To keep the kidneys functioning well enough to not need a machine to filter waste from the blood, called dialysis or a kidney transplant.

Supportive treatments

In general, these treatments can help people with kidney disease:

  • Changes in the diet. Limiting the amount of protein and salt in the diet can help the kidneys work better.
  • Blood pressure medications. Medications are called inhibitors of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) and angiotensin II receptor blockers (arbs) may help to control the blood pressure. These drugs also prevent the protein filtration of the kidneys in the urine. Medications called diuretics helps to get rid of the fluid.

Medications

The treatment of lupus nephritis severe may need medications that slow or stop the immune system from attacking healthy cells. Medications are often used together. Sometimes, certain medications used in the first activated in order to avoid toxic effects.

Medications for the treatment of lupus nephritis may include:

  • Steroids, such as prednisone (Rays).
  • Cyclosporine (Gengraf, Neoral, Sandimmune).
  • Voclosporin (Lupkynis).
  • Tacrolimus (Astagraf, Envarsus, Prograf).
  • Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan).
  • Azathioprine (Azasan, Imuran).
  • Mycophenolate (CellCept).
  • Rituximab (Rituxan).
  • Belimumab (Benlysta).

Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating new treatments for lupus nephritis.

Treatment options for kidney failure

For people who progress to renal failure, the treatment options include:

  • The dialysis. Dialysis helps to remove fluid and waste from the body, maintain the balance of minerals in the blood, and manage blood pressure by filtering the blood through a machine.
  • Kidney transplant. If the kidneys stop working, a kidney from a donor is called a transplant might be needed.
Symptoms and treatment of Lupus nephritis