National Kidney Foundation of Michigan

Leading the fight against kidney disease

Lupus is a chronic disease that can cause inflammation and pain in any part of your body. It’s an autoimmune disease, which means that your immune system — the body system that usually fights infections — attacks healthy tissue and organs instead.

Lupus nephritis is a type of kidney disease caused by lupus. In adults who have lupus, 5 out of 10 (50%) will have kidney disease. Kidney damage may be mild or severe. The symptoms of lupus nephritis include swelling (legs, feet, or ankles), weight change (gain or loss), tiredness, urine that looks brown or foamy, making less urine than normal, and/or high blood pressure.

Lupus affects 1.5 million adults in the United States.

Nine out of 10 people who have lupus are women, occurring most often during childbearing years (ages 15-44).

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Did you know?

  • The symptoms of lupus nephritis include swelling (legs, feet, or ankles), weight change (gain or loss), tiredness, urine that looks brown or foamy, making less urine than normal, and/or high blood pressure.
  • Tests for lupus nephritis include a urine test, blood tests, and kidney biopsy.
  • The treatments for lupus nephritis include immunosuppressive drugs (medicines that partly “turn off” the immune system) and medicines that can help with kidney damage called ACE inhibitors or ARBs.
  • Diet changes for lupus nephritis may include reducing salt and protein and eating lower fat, heart healthy foods.
  • Low impact exercise, such as walking and swimming, may have physical and emotional benefits for people with lupus nephritis (check with your doctor before starting an exercise plan).
  • Severe lupus nephritis can make the kidneys stop working. Between 1 and 3 out of every 10 people with lupus nephritis will develop kidney failure.
  • If the kidney fails, treatment options include dialysis or kidney transplant.