Yes, lupus can affect any of our organs, including the kidneys. It has affected my kidneys, lungs, and heart.
October 5
9 day coma lung and kidney failure.
October 5
Yes, the kidneys are among the most commonly affected organs. Take heart; there are now four effective treatment options!😘
October 6
Yes, lupus can definitely affect the kidneys. When lupus attacks the kidneys, it leads to a condition called lupus nephritis. This happens because the immune system produces autoantibodies that mistakenly attack kidney tissue, causing inflammation and damage.
An inflamed kidney can struggle to do its job properly, which Show Full Answer
Yes, lupus can definitely affect the kidneys. When lupus attacks the kidneys, it leads to a condition called lupus nephritis. This happens because the immune system produces autoantibodies that mistakenly attack kidney tissue, causing inflammation and damage.
An inflamed kidney can struggle to do its job properly, which includes:
- Filtering waste from the blood
- Balancing fluids in the body
- Maintaining the right levels of salts and minerals Lupus nephritis is quite common — up to 50% of adults with lupus and around 80% of children with lupus develop it. Kidney damage can be "silent," meaning it often isn't noticeable until it becomes more severe.
That's why regular blood and urine tests are so important — they can catch kidney problems early, before symptoms appear. In more serious cases, lupus nephritis can progress to kidney failure, which affects about 10–30% of people with lupus nephritis. Symptoms of kidney failure to watch out for include:
- Fatigue
- Muscle cramps
- Nausea or confusion
- Itchiness
- Shortness of breath
If any of these symptoms appear, it's important to contact a doctor right away or seek emergency care.
October 5
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