What is Lupus Nephritis?

Lupus nephritis is kidney inflammation caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus). SLE is an autoimmune disease—a disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues causing damage. Up to 60 percent of people with SLE may develop lupus nephritis, which can lead to significant illness and even death.*

How does Lupus Nephritis harm the kidney?

Kidney damage from lupus can be mild or severe. It can cause damage to the filtering units (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 percent of lupus patients will have some kidney damage. However, the kidney disease may be "silent" and not cause any symptoms. Symptoms of Lupus Nephritis may include; high blood pressure, swelling of the legs and body, weight gain, dark urine or blood in the urine.

How is Lupus Nephritis Diagnosed?

Urinalysis: Urinalysis is testing of a urine sample. The urine sample is collected in a special container in a doctor's office and can be tested in the same location or sent to a lab for analysis. A high number of red blood cells or high levels of protein in the urine indicate kidney damage.

Blood Test: A blood test involves drawing blood at a doctor’s office and sending the sample to a lab for analysis. The blood test can show high levels of creatinine, a waste product of normal muscle breakdown excreted by the kidneys, which increases when the kidneys are not functioning well.

Biopsy: A biopsy is a procedure that involves taking a small piece of kidney tissue for examination with a microscope. A kidney biopsy is done in a hospital under local anesthesia. While you lie on your stomach the doctor will insert a very thin, long needle through the skin of your back and remove a tiny piece of tissue from one of your kidneys. The tissue will be examined under a microscope to determine how much inflammation or scarring is present The American College of Rheumatology recommends biopsies for all people with evidence of active lupus nephritis that has not been previously treated.

Things to Remember:

• Lupus nephritis is kidney inflammation caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus)

  
  

• Lupus nephritis is diagnosed through urine and blood tests and a kidney biopsy.

  
  

• Lupus nephritis is treated with medications that suppress the immune system, so it stops attacking and damaging the kidneys. Examples include IV cyclophosphamide or mycophenolate mofetil, typically used with prednisone. These medications have not been approved for treatment of Lupus Nephritis.

a complete physical examination and review of your medical history

blood and urine tests

assessment of your lupus activity

vital signs (blood pressure, heart rate and respiration rate)

electrocardiogram (ECG: an electrical recording of the activity of the heart)

review of your health status and / or other medications that you are taking

 come to ALL scheduled visits

give complete and accurate information about your medical history

not take part in any other clinical research during this study and for a minimum of 30 days after completing the study

not give blood during the study and for at least 30 days following the last blood draw of the study

follow all study instructions

tell your study doctor about any medical appointments or tests outside of the study (i.e., the dentist, family doctor, etc.);

tell your study doctor about any changes in your medical condition during the study and for 30 days after completing the study.