Printer Friendly Version
Email a Friend
The Kidney Connection - Lupus Nephritis
EasyLink Access #: 170
Lupus is short for "lupus erythematosus." The word "lupus" is the Latin word for "wolf." It was named because of the skin rash resembling a wolf's bite that some patients get over the bridge of their nose. Lupus is an autoimmune disease because the immune system, which usually protects the body from illness, turns against it. This causes harm to organs and tissues, including the skin, joints, kidneys, and brain. Causes and Symptoms It is unknown precisely what causes the disease, but scientists suspect that family history and environmental factors such as viruses, infections, toxic chemicals, or pollutants may play a role. Adults of all ages and races can get lupus, but women contract it at a tenfold greater rate than men. An estimated half-a-million Americans suffer from it. Symptoms of lupus may include: - Skin rashes;
- Joint pain;
- Hair loss;
- Sensitivity to the sun;
- Feeling tired;
- Losing weight;
- Fever;
- Swelling of the lymph glands;
- Chest pain; and
- Nerve damage.
Kidney Damage Lupus can cause damage to the filtering units, or glomeruli, of the kidney. Since these filtering units clear your blood of waste, damage to them can cause your kidneys to work poorly or not at all. About 90% of lupus patients will have some kidney damage, but only 2%-3% will actually develop kidney failure severe enough to require dialysis or a renal transplant. Lupus nephritis is a kidney disease caused by lupus. Your doctor can determine if lupus has harmed your kidneys by testing for protein or blood in your urine. The levels of urea and creatinine in your blood will also be high because your kidneys are not getting rid of enough waste products. The Kidney Connection If the kidneys fail, they can be treated with dialysis or a renal transplant. Patients with lupus tend to do as well with these treatments as those with other kinds of kidney disease. If the patient has a transplant, it is unusual, even rare, that the lupus will reoccur in an active form in the new kidney. Lupus nephritis results from an inflammation of the kidneys associated with an over-active immune, or defense, system. Consequently, antibodies against the patient's own tissues form antibody-tissue unions that, in turn, deposit in the kidney and begin a destructive inflammatory process. Shun the Sun and Rest Exposure to the sun often causes lupus to flare up in its victims. It is suggested that they avoid outdoor activities between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. in most places. If they must go out, they should wear strong sunscreens, wide-brimmed hats, and long-sleeved shirts. Being tired can also cause the disease to flare up. Patients should schedule rest periods when they begin to get tired. More Information For more information, log onto the following websites: Last Updated April 2007
|