How does lupus affect the kidneys?
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Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack and inflame otherwise healthy tissues and organs. Kidneys are among the organs that can be damaged by this disease and kidney failure is a chief cause of death among people with lupus. About 75 percent of people will experience kidney damage within the first few years of diagnosis. This disease can inflame the structures of the kidneys that allow them to properly filter waste out of the body. For most, this complication can be treated effectively with medication. Those who experience severe kidney damage can be treated with dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack and inflame otherwise healthy tissues and organs. Kidneys are among the organs that can be damaged by this disease and kidney failure is a chief cause of death among people with lupus.... More -
Johns Hopkins Medicine answered:About one-half of people with lupus experience kidney problems.
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that rest under the abdominal cavity, towards the lower back. They filter blood and produce urine. Within the kidney are structures called nephrons that function like a mini-kidney to remove waste and unneeded substances from the body, while also ensuring that the body retains vital nutrients and water.
Lupus most frequently causes a kidney condition called glomerulonephritis. A glomerulus is a tiny capillary, or blood vessel, inside the nephrons that helps filter substances from the blood. Lupus glomerulonephritis causes inflammation and scarring in the glomeruli (plural of glomerulus), which prevents the kidney from effectively filtering substances from the blood and producing urine.
Fortunately, there are a range of treatment options to help treat kidney lupus.About one-half of people with lupus experience kidney problems. The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that rest under the abdominal cavity, towards the lower back. They filter blood and produce urine. Within the kidney are structures called... More
