Lupus Nephritis Symptoms

Lupus nephritis is inflammation of the kidneys that is caused by systemic lupus erythematosis, an autoimmune disease. If you have lupus nephritis, you may not have any symptoms at all. About half of all patients with lupus nephritis never experience any symptoms. 

If you do have symptoms, they may vary widely from those of other patients. That is why it's important to get a proper diagnosis from your health care practitioner. In addition, your symptoms may seem like those of nephritis, but may actually be caused by some other illness. For instance, people with lupus often have urinary tract problems that are not related to kidney disease, such as urinary tract infections. Some of the symptoms are similar, such as dark or cloudy urine.

Edema is one important symptom of lupus nephritis. This is swelling caused by fluid retention. This happens because when the kidneys do not work properly, the body cannot regulate its fluid balance. As a result, you may experience swollen legs or ankles, swelling around your eyes, or swollen fingers and hands.

High blood pressure is another important sign of lupus nephritis. Of course, hypertension can be a symptom of many other illnesses. However, if you have lupus and high blood pressure, you should get checked to make sure your kidneys are functioning properly.

A western approach to lupus nephritis it to proscribe steroids or immunosuppressive drugs.