Lupus nephritis is a condition that causes inflammation of the kidneys due to systemic autoimmune disease. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack its own tissues. In Lupus nephritis, lupus causes the body to attack the kidneys specifically. Many lupus patients eventually develop lupus nephritis.
The symptoms are not always as severe for this condition as you might expect. This condition can be very serious, but it can start out with very mild symptoms overall. The first symptom that many patients notice is swelling of the legs, the feet, and the ankles. They might also have swelling in the face and hands.
Other symptoms that are related to this condition are:
The symptoms of this condition can sometimes be confused with UTIs, which people with lupus are also prone to get on a regular basis. There are some lupus medications that can also impact the health of the kidneys and can make it seem like lupus nephritis is to blame for a patient’s symptoms.
Lupus nephritis is the most common type of lupus. The mechanisms that cause lupus are poorly understood at this time. This condition is caused by autoimmune disease, which causes the body’s immune system to attack the tissue of the body. Genes can be involved, and lupus can run in families. Women tend to get lupus more often than men, which might indicate that hormones are involved in the disease process.
Exposure to things like cigarette smoke, silica, mercury, extreme stress, and UV light seems to be related to getting lupus in some cases. Having caught viruses like Epstein-Barr, herpes zoster, and cytomegalovirus can also predispose someone to lupus.
The risk factors for lupus nephritis are:
Diagnosis for lupus nephritis can be complicated. This condition can appear like many other health conditions in the early stages. Symptoms can also vary greatly from person to person. The signs and symptoms of the condition can also progress and vary over time, which can make it hard to get a solid diagnosis for many patients.
Diagnosis is often made using a variety of tests. Doctors will usually order blood and urine tests, use physical exams to gather more information, and might call for tests like CT scans or MRIs to visualise the kidneys to see if they have suffered damage. Urine tests and blood tests will also show problems with kidney values, which can indicate that lupus nephritis is present.
Doctors might also call for an antinuclear antibody test that looks for the presence of antibodies in the blood. People with lupus will have an elevated ANA test in most cases due to the immune system response related to the disease.
Another test that can be used to determine if lupus nephritis is present is the erythrocyte sedimentation rate test. This blood test sees how many red blood cells settle to the bottom of a sample over the course of an hour. A faster rate than normal can indicate that lupus processes are present.
Treating lupus is often complex. The treatment protocol often depends upon a person’s symptoms. NSAIDs are used to control inflammation in the body in most cases. Antimalarial drugs can also help to suppress the immune system to help control lupus nephritis processes. Corticosteroids can be used to help with inflammation as well, and immunosuppressant drugs can help to control the incorrect immune response in the body.
Treatment for lupus continues to evolve as researchers continue to look for better solutions to treat this condition. Many of the current drugs that patients can take have lots of negative side effects and do not work well over the long term.
There is no specific way to prevent lupus, but it can be wise to avoid smoking and drinking. You should also make sure not to be exposed to chemical products, heavy metals, and aerosol products on a regular basis. If you have family members with lupus nephritis, you will need to be aware that you have a higher probably of being diagnosed with this condition.