Lupus Nephritis
Lupus Nephritis
Lupus Nephritis is a serious kidney condition also known as a form of glomerulonephritis caused by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. Most of the common findings that might make the doctor suspicious are protein and blood in the urine. Unfortunately the only way to make a diagnosis is a Kidney Biopsy in combination with some blood tests.
Percentage of Lupus sufferers that develop Lupus Nephritis
About 50% of those who suffer from Lupus disease have Lupus Nephritis. It can develop about after a year of being diagnosed with SLE Lupus. What is interesting is that when Lupus patients’ kidneys are biopsied, about 90% have some level of Lupus Nephritis even when no symptoms or signs are present.
Why do the kidneys damage with this Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Autoimmune diseases are characterized by antibodies that attach to the body’s tissues which causes inflammation and injury to the organ attached. These are called immune complexes. This combination of auto-antibodies and normal tissue attracts the rest of the immune system that thinks that an enemy has attacked and as a result, the immune system destroys the normal tissue. This is basically what happens in systemic lupus with the kidneys. Antibodies attach to the kidneys and the immune system destroys the normal kidney tissue.
Diagnosis
As mentioned before, the final diagnosis is done by biopsy. As long as a person has Lupus, it is taken for granted that their kidneys need to be checked. All Lupus patients with high creatinine levels in the blood and protein in the urine are suspected to have the disease and are submitted to a kidney biopsy.
Symptoms and Signs
Major signs would be similar to any other kidney failure due to other causes with the addition that the person has all the symptoms of Lupus.
- High Blood pressure
- Foaming Urine
- Swelling in the legs
Lupus Nephritis should be monitored regularly to make sure it is doing ok and not progressively getting worse. Natural remedies are an effective way of protecting the kidney from damage in conjunction with conventional treatment.
Treatment
The main treatment in conventional medicine is directed to controlling SLE Lupus and maintaining the Symptoms of Lupus nephritis. This may include:
- Regulating the dosage of Prednisone
- The use of other immune suppressors
- Medications to control High blood pressure
- Medications to control water retention
Natural Remedies or Alternative Medicine may include:
- Dietary Change which may include eating organic foods
- Detoxification
- Herbs to strengthen the adrenals
- Herbs to reduce the need of steroids
- Hormonal balancing with the intention of reducing excess estrogen (in females)
- Immunomodulators to calm the immune system
- Life-style change
Other Related Articles you may like to read: Lupus: The Living Hell
Norton Protocol Review: Is This Natural Lupus Treatment a Scam?
SLE Lupus Faq
