PATIENTS

About 200,000-300,000 people live with SLE in the U.S. and about one-third of these people are diagnosed with lupus nephritis at the time of their SLE diagnosis. About 50 percent of all people with SLE may develop lupus nephritis. Black and Asian people with SLE are four times more likely to develop lupus nephritis and Hispanic people are approximately twice as likely to develop the disease compared to White people with SLE. Black and Hispanic people with SLE also tend to develop lupus nephritis earlier and have poorer outcomes, compared to White people with SLE.

The kidneys play a crucial role in maintaining overall health by removing toxic waste and excess fluid from the body through urine. In patients with lupus nephritis, the kidneys cannot function normally. Lupus nephritis may get worse over time and could lead to kidney failure, which is serious but treatable. If the kidneys fail, dialysis or a kidney transplant may be required.

Kidney problems can start around the same time that lupus symptoms appear, but often renal involvement does not cause any noticeable symptoms. This is why routine urine monitoring is an important part of managing patients living with lupus, because often the only way the renal involvement is initially detected is by detecting protein in the urine.

A lupus nephritis diagnosis is usually made by a nephrologist or a rheumatologist. The three most common tests used to diagnose lupus nephritis are a urine test, a blood test, and a kidney biopsy.

Treatment for lupus nephritis focuses on controlling kidney inflammation, helping to preserve kidney health, and preventing kidney flares. The types of treatment prescribed may depend on a number of factors, including the class of lupus nephritis. Early diagnosis and adherence to a treatment plan can help patients live their fullest lives and prevent long-term kidney damage.