Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often causes inflammation in various parts of the body. When lupus causes inflammation in the kidney, the condition is called lupus nephritis. Lupus nephritis may cause hypertension (high blood pressure), urine that is dark, weight gain, or swelling of the eyes, fingers, legs or ankles.

About half of the patients with SLE will develop lupus nephritis in their lifetime. There is no way to prevent lupus nephritis, but if you have lupus, you should be aware of the signs in order to quickly get treatment to prevent damage that it may do to the kidney.

Lupus nephritis normally appears in the beginning of the disease. Very few people with SLE will develop inflammation of the kidney in lupus after 10 years. Men with SLE are slightly more likely to develop lupus nephritis than women with SLE. The ethnic groups most likely to develop inflammation of the kidney in lupus are Asians, African-Americans, and African-Caribbeans.

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Lupus nephritis may cause interstitial nephritis, membranous GN, mesangial GN, membranoproliferative GN, diffuse proliferative GN and others. Nephrotic syndrome is another condition caused by inflammation of the kidney in lupus which causes excess protein to be excreted and may quickly lead to renal failure. Another problem that lupus nephritis may cause is progressive azotemia (excessive nitrogenous waste in the bloodstream) as well as blood and protein in the urine.

To diagnose lupus nephritis, the doctor may have to do blood and urine tests along with a kidney biopsy and x-rays. The severity of the disease can be measured by the immune abnormalities in the blood of people with lupus. The tests measure things like DNA antibodies and complement levels.

To treat inflammation of the kidney in lupus, the doctor will prescribe medication that will suppress the immune system and reduce inflammation. The doctor may also have the patient limit the intake of sodium, potassium and protein.

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Initially, the steroids prednisolone and prednisone are used, either orally or intravenously, to treat lupus nephritis. Another accepted treatment for inflammation of the kidney in lupus is to intravenously give large doses (a pulse) of corticosteroids such as methylprdnisolone over the course of three days in a row, followed by oral corticosteroids.

The medications that will help teat lupus nephritis by suppressing the immune system are oral cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and oral azathioprine (Imuran). For the first half-year the pulse is repeated every month. After that, the pulse is given every quarter year. Some patients may be given cyclophosphamide intravenously in one large dose called a pulse.

Sometimes, lupus nephritis leads to kidney failure and, in that case, a kidney transplant or dialysis will be necessary for the patient to live.

Lupus nephritis is a serious, unpreventable, and very common complication of lupus which may lead to death if not treated. Therefore, if you experience any of the signs of inflammation of the kidney, do not hesitate to see your doctor and follow the recommended treatment.

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