Lupus Nephritis – Symptoms and Causes
What is Lupus Nephritis?
Lupus nephritis develops when systemic lupus erythematosus affects the kidneys. It happens when the immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, including kidney structures.
When a person has lupus, their body creates autoantibodies that target healthy tissues. These harmful proteins can damage the kidney’s filtering units. This damage triggers inflammation in the kidneys.
The inflammation damages the kidney’s filtering system, making it harder for the body to remove waste and excess fluid.
About 50% of people with lupus will develop some form of kidney involvement during their illness. Early detection and treatment are important to prevent permanent kidney damage.
Symptoms
Lupus nephritis often shows these warning signs:
- Blood in the urine (may appear pink, brown, or tea-colored)
- Foamy or frothy urine, caused by excess protein
- Swelling in the legs, ankles, feet, and sometimes the hands or face
- High blood pressure
- Weight gain from fluid retention
- Elevated creatinine levels on blood tests (a marker of kidney stress)
- Changes in urination, such as frequency or volume
These symptoms happen because the kidney filters become damaged, affecting their ability to clean the blood properly.
Causes
Lupus nephritis affects up to 50% of adults who have systemic lupus. This condition develops when the immune system mistakenly attacks the kidneys instead of protecting them.
Healthy kidneys perform the crucial function of blood filtration. As blood circulates through your body, it collects excess fluids, chemicals, and waste products. Your kidneys normally filter these substances from the blood and remove them through urine.
When lupus damages the kidney’s filtering system, these harmful substances remain in the bloodstream. The kidneys become less efficient at their cleaning job.
Risk Factors
Several key factors can raise your chances of developing lupus nephritis:
Gender: While lupus affects more women overall, men with lupus face a higher risk of developing kidney involvement.
Racial background: Black, Hispanic, and Asian American individuals have higher rates of lupus nephritis compared to white populations.
These factors cannot be changed, but understanding them helps doctors monitor patients who may need closer attention.
Complications
Lupus nephritis can lead to several serious health problems. These issues need careful monitoring and management by healthcare providers.
High Blood Pressure
People with lupus nephritis often develop high blood pressure (hypertension). This condition puts extra strain on the kidneys and can worsen kidney damage.
Kidney Failure
Without proper treatment, lupus nephritis may progress to kidney failure. In severe cases, patients might need dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Increased Cancer Risk
Individuals with lupus nephritis face a higher chance of developing certain cancers. B-cell lymphoma, a cancer that affects the immune system, is particularly more common in these patients.
Heart and Blood Vessel Complications
The disease can damage blood vessels and increase the risk of:
- Heart attacks
- Strokes
- Blood clots
- Hardening of the arteries
These cardiovascular problems may develop earlier than in people without lupus nephritis.
Medication Side Effects
The strong medicines used to treat lupus nephritis can cause their own problems. These might include:
- Increased infection risk
- Bone thinning
- Weight gain
- Diabetes
- Mood changes
Working closely with healthcare providers helps balance treating the disease while managing these potential side effects.
