Lupus nephritis

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Male urinary system

Nephritis - lupus; Lupus glomerular disease

• Blood in the urine
• Foamy appearance to urine
• Swelling of any area of the body
• Elevated blood pressure

• Joint pain
• Joint swelling
• Joint redness
• Rash
  • commonly on the face but may occur on other areas
  • characteristic "butterfly" distribution
• Chest pain , sharp and stabbing
• Cough
• Sun sensitivity
  • fever may develop after exposure to sun
  • rash may develop after exposure to sun
• Fatigue
• Mouth ulcers (painless)
• Neurologic changes
  • seizures
  • dementia or psychosis

Examination indicates decreased kidney functioning with edema and may indicate kidney failure. Blood pressure may be high. Abnormal sounds may be heard when the doctor listens to the heart and lungs, indicating fluid overload.

Lupus nephritis is usually discovered during investigation of the causes of reduced kidney function. Fewer than half of patients have other symptoms of SLE at the time of diagnosis of lupus nephritis.

• A urinalysis is abnormal with protein, casts, and red blood cells present in the urine.
• An ANA titer is high.
• Syphilis tests may be falsely positive.
• BUN and creatinine may be used to assess kidney functioning.
• A lupus erythematosus (LE) cell test is positive.
• A kidney biopsy is indicated, not to diagnose lupus nephritis, but to determine what treatment is appropriate for the renal component of SLE.
• A urine immunoglobulin light chain is elevated.

• Complement component 3
• Complement

Review Date: 09/13/2005
Reviewed By: Robert Mushnick, M.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, SUNY Downstate Health Center, Brooklyn, NY. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.