Lupus Nephritis

Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidney caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a disease of the immune system. SLE causes harm to the skin, joints, kidneys, and brain.

The causes of SLE are unknown. Many factors may play a role, including:

• Gender (SLE is more common in women than men)
• Heredity (a gene passed down by a parent)
• Infections
• Viruses
• Environmental causes

Some people with SLE may have no symptoms of kidney disease. However, lupus nephritis may cause weight gain, high blood pressure, dark urine, or swelling around the eyes, legs, ankles, or fingers.

Diagnosis may require urine and blood tests and X-rays of the kidneys as well as a kidney biopsy. Treatment depends on the symptoms. Medicines can decrease swelling, lower blood pressure, and decrease inflammation by suppressing the immune system. Patients may need to limit protein, sodium, and potassium intake in their diet.

Lupus nephritis is a glomerular disease. For more information, see the NKUDIC publication Glomerular Diseases.

More information is also available from:

Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.
2000 L Street NW., Suite 710
Washington, DC 20036
Phone: 1-800-558-0121 or 202-349-1155
Email: lupusinfo@lupus.org
Internet: www.lupus.org

National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
National Institutes of Health
1 AMS Circle
Bethesda, MD 20892-3675
Phone: 877-22-NIAMS or 301-495-4484
Email: niamsinfo@mail.nih.org
Internet: www.niams.nih.gov

NIAMS has online publications on Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and The Many Shades of Lupus (easy to read).

Additional Information on Lupus Nephritis

The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse collects resource information on kidney and urologic diseases for the Combined Health Information Database (CHID). CHID is a database produced by health-related agencies of the Federal Government. This database provides titles, abstracts, and availability information for health information and health education resources.

To provide you with the most up-to-date resources, information specialists at the clearinghouse created an automatic search of CHID. To obtain this information, you may view the results of the automatic search on Lupus Nephritis.

If you wish to perform your own search of the database, you may access the CHID Online website and search CHID yourself.

National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

3 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3580
Email: nkudic@info.niddk.nih.gov

The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1987, the Clearinghouse provides information about diseases of the kidneys and urologic system to people with kidney and urologic disorders and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. The NKUDIC answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works closely with professional and patient organizations and government agencies to coordinate resources about kidney and urologic diseases.

Publications produced by the Clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts.