Lupus Site - a guide for lupus patients and their families

Lupus nephritis (also known as glomerulonephritis) affects about 1/3 of SLE patients. There are few signs of lupus nephritis, but swelling of the ankles & around the eyes, nosebleeds, foaming of urine, increased urination at night, & protein in the urine are all signs. Pain in the abdomen or back, & pain during urination are not symptoms of kidney disease, but are most likely signs of infection (urinary infections are common in lupus & can be successfully treated with antibiotics). If there is protein in the urine on one occasion, & not the next, a very mild form of lupus nephritis is likely & no treatment is usually necessary. In patients where protein is present in the urine on more than one occasion, more tests are required.

Tests for kidney disease include -

Urinalysis: a sample of urine is tested for the presence of blood cells & protein, which if present indicate the need for further tests.

Blood tests: Two tests are used to see if the kidney is doing its job properly by ridding the body of excess fluids & waste products, these tests are the blood urea nitrogen (BUN), & the serum creatinine. If protein is being lost in the urine, there may be lower protein levels in the blood, this is measured by the serum albumin. Serum sodium, & potassium tests are carried out to test for any imbalances of salt & water in the blood.

24-hour urine collection: Patients who are suspected of having kidney disease may have to collect their urine over a 24-hour period, The kidneys; ability to filter waste products, & the total amount of protein lost can then be measured.

Kidney biopsy: A kidney biopsy may be performed to confirm the diagnosis, to determine if kidney tissue is inflamed or scarred, & to evaluate treatment. The type of lupus nephritis present can also be classified. A kidney biopsy means inserting a needle into the back, to remove a small piece of kidney.

Many factors must be taken into consideration before treatment can be decided upon. Kidney disease is treated with steroids and/or cytotoxic drugs. High doses of steroids are usually given until an improvement is seen, the steroid dose can then be slowly reduced. Also, diuretic drugs are used to eliminate waste fluid, & drugs are used to control high blood pressure. A change in diet is also necessary. Kidney disease can be treated, but some patients with advanced kidney disease may develop renal failure which necessitates kidney dialysis. In these cases kidney transplantation can also be considered.