List Of Autoimmune Diseases That Affect The Kidneys - KidneyHealthDigest.com (2023)

Find Out If You Have Lupus Nephritis

Chronic kidney disease – causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, pathology

Since lupus nephritis may not cause symptoms at first, its important that people with lupus get tested for kidney problems. Your doctor or a special doctor called a nephrologist can find out if you have lupus nephritis or other problems in your urinary system.

You may need different kinds of tests, including:

• Urine tests to check for blood and protein in your urine
• Blood tests to check how well your kidneys are filtering waste out of your blood
• Kidney biopsy to check for inflammation and scarring in your kidney tissue

Clinical Findings And Diagnosis

The clinical hallmarks of glomerulonephritis are hematuria, proteinuria, urinary casts and a reduced glomerular filtration rate . The presence and severity of each of these signs vary considerably between disease categories as well as between individual patients. However, it is common to lump different combinations of these hallmarks in clinical syndromes, a list of six commonly used terms for glomerulonephritis syndromes is presented in Table 1. There is a correlation between histological

How The Kidneys Work

The kidneys are like the body’s garbage collection and disposal system. Through microscopic units called nephrons, the kidneys remove waste products and extra water from the food a person eats, returning chemicals the body needs back into the bloodstream. The extra water combines with other waste to become urine, which flows through thin tubes called ureters to the bladder, where it stays until it exits through the urethra when someone goes to the bathroom.

The kidneys also produce three important hormones:

• erythropoietin, which stimulates the bone marrow to make red blood cells
• renin, which helps regulate blood pressure and
• the active form of vitamin D, which helps control the calcium balance in the body and maintain healthy bones.

Kidney failure, which is also called renal failure, is when the kidneys slow down or stop properly filtering wastes from the body, which can cause buildups of waste products and toxic substances in the blood. Kidney failure can be acute or chronic .

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In The Event Of Kidney Failure:

If your kidneys fail, you can be treated with dialysis or a kidney transplant. Lupus patients do as well with these treatments as people who have other types of kidney disease.

Learn more about Lupus Nephritis

Disclaimer: The UCLA Health System cannot guarantee the accuracy of such information. The information is provided without warranty or guarantee of any kind. Please speak to your Physician before making any changes.

Sle Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus , also known as systemic sclerosis, is a serious autoimmune disease that affects multiple organs and systems. It is characterized by inflammation of the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, heart, nervous system, and other parts of the body. Symptoms include joint pain, fever, rash, swollen glands, mouth sores, hair loss, and weight loss.

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Will I Need Surgery Or Dialysis For Lupus Nephritis

Kidney failure develops in 10% to 30% of people with lupus nephritis. If this happens, you may need:

• Dialysis, which is a procedure to clean your blood when the kidneys arent working correctly.
• Kidney transplant, which is a surgical procedure that replaces one of your failing kidneys with a healthy kidney from a donor.

How Do You Treat Lupus Nephritis

People with the more severe forms of lupus nephritis, classes III, IV and V , need to be started on an aggressive course of treatment that is also referred to as induction therapy, since the goal is to induce a remission of the inflammation and related symptoms. During induction therapy, immunosuppressive drugs are administered at high doses. The duration of induction therapy can range from three months to one year. A key point here is to start induction therapy as soon as possible without losing time, in order to minimize loss of kidney tissue from the inflammation. Time is kidney, as many doctors say.

As the condition improves, the patient switches to maintenance therapy, in which a lower dose of the drug or drugs is administered. Maintenance therapy continues for at least two years, though the optimal duration is not known yet.

Because immunosuppressive agents are powerful drugs with the potential for serious side effects, the rheumatologist strives to taper their use as soon as the condition allows.

Immunosuppressive agents include:

Adjunctive therapy that addresses other disease-related concerns may include one or more of the following, depending on the individual case and if there are no contraindications:

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This Site Does Not Provide Medical Advice:

The content provided on this website is for educational and informational purposes only, and is not intended as a substitute for advice from a qualified medical professional. The views and opinions expressed on this website are those of the authors, and are not intended to serve as diagnosis, treatment, or prevention of disease. Always consult with your doctor regarding your medical condition or any symptoms you may be experiencing.

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What Should I Do If I Have Vasculitis

Mayo Clinic Explains Kidney Disease

Learning that you have a rare chronic disease can be scary, stressful, and overwhelming. Healthcare providers will be sharing lots of information about your condition and the treatment options. One of the most helpful things you can do is to have a trusted friend or family member with you at your appointments. Ask them to take notes and help you ask questions. This will reduce the worry that you might forget a question, or not remember some important information your doctor tells you. Here are some questions that many patients find helpful to ask their doctor:

• What is my diagnosis?
• What are the chances that the treatment will be successful?
• What are the risks and side effects of treatment?
• How long will the treatment last?
• Will I have to change my normal activities?
• What will treatment cost?

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Whats The Prognosis For People With Lupus Nephritis

People who receive timely treatment for lupus nephritis have a positive outlook. People with lupus nephritis who receive medication, dialysis or a kidney transplant tend to do as well as people with other kidney diseases who receive these treatments. But most people need to manage the disease with medication or dialysis for the rest of their lives.

Why Does The Immune System Attack Our Own Body

Medical researchers dont know what triggers an immune-system misfire, but some people are more likely to acquire the autoimmune disease than others. A recent study found that women get diagnosed with autoimmune diseases at a rate of 2 to 1 compared to men. For women, Autoimmune disease generally starts during the ages of 15 to 45, which are a womans childbearing years. Some autoimmune diseases are also much more common in some ethnic groups. Lupus, as an example, affects more people with African and Hispanic populations than Caucasians. Some cases can be genetic autoimmune disease and run in families. While it doesnt affect every person in the family, it does increase the risk of acquiring an autoimmune condition. Learn about genetic screenings for autoimmune disease.

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How Can We Test For Anca Vasculitis

Doctors use a combination of tests as well as history and physical exam to diagnose ANCA vasculitis. These tests usually focus on the area of the body that are affected. Typically it takes a combination of tests, as well as talking to and examining someone, to make a diagnosis. Below are some tests that are often used to evaluate for vasculitis:

• A blood test to detect ANCA
• Blood tests that show inflammation in the body
• To check for kidney involvement- blood tests for kidney function , urine tests for blood and protein, and looking at the urine under a microscope
• To check for lung involvement- X-rays and/or CT scans of the chest. Further testing can include bronchoscopy, which is looking into the airways/lungs with a camera.
• To look for sinus involvement- endoscopic exam of the sinuses
• Biopsy of an affected tissue or organ- this means a procedure to get a small piece of tissue from a body part to look at under the microscope. The procedure is different depending on the type of biopsy .

How Does Lupus Affect The Kidneys

Your kidneys filter waste and extra water out of your blood to make urine . They also help control your blood pressure and keep the right balance of salts, acids, and minerals in your blood.

Lupus can cause a kidney disease called lupus nephritis. Lupus nephritis is inflammation in the kidneys that can make them stop working. When the kidneys arent working well, waste builds up in the blood and extra water builds up in the body.

Lupus nephritis is most common in people ages 20 to 40. It usually starts within 5 years of your first lupus symptoms.

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Why Choose Seattle Childrens Autoimmune Kidney Disease Clinic

Seattle Childrens is the only program on the West Coast dedicated to diagnosing and treating babies, children and teens with autoimmune disease that affects the kidneys. Only a handful of clinics in the nation have this focus.

Our team works with you to provide complete care for your child and family. We base our treatments on the most current research on autoimmune kidney disease. We tailor treatment to meet your childs needs.

We have deep experience in treating children with serious, lifelong disease. We do our best to guide families during this stressful time as they choose the best care for their child. We have the only rheumatology program in the Pacific Northwest dedicated to children and teens.

Control The Immune System

Health care providers sometimes use medications to control a persons immune system. Since inflammation is the immune systems normal response, controlling the immune system can decrease inflammation. Health care providers may prescribe the following medications:

• corticosteroids, such as prednisone

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What Is Anca Glomerulonephritis

As mentioned above, ANCA vasculitis happens when autoantibodies attack small blood vessels. When ANCA vasculitis involves the kidneys, it affects the filters in the kidney. The filters of the kidney are calledglomeruli . The glomeruli are made of a bundle or ball of tiny blood vessels called capillaries. Since ANCA antibodies affect small blood vessels, these small blood vessels in the glomeruli can be attacked and damaged. ANCA glomerulonephritis is the term we use when ANCA vasculitis has affected or involved the kidneys, and when this happens there is inflammation and swelling in the kidney filters .

The glomeruli, or kidney filters, normally filter water, electrolytes, and waste/toxins from the blood into the urine. There are proteins and red blood cells in the bloodstream that normally do not go through the filter, so do not normally get into the urine. When there is inflammation and swelling in the glomerulus , like when white blood cells attack them in ANCA vasculitis, they dont work properly, and red blood cells and protein can leak into the urine. Sometimes blood can be seen in the urine, making it look brown like tea or Coke, but sometimes it can only be seen on a test called a urine dipstick , or under a microscope. Protein in the urine can also be detected on urine dipstick, and can sometimes make the urine look foamy or bubbly.

How Does Iga Nephropathy Affect The Kidneys

How doctors diagnose and treat C3G and IC-MPGN | Rare Disease | American Kidney Fund

IgA nephropathy affects the kidneys by attacking the glomeruli. The glomeruli are sets of looping blood vessels in nephronsthe tiny working units of the kidneys that filter wastes and remove extra fluid from the blood. The buildup of IgA deposits inflames and damages the glomeruli, causing the kidneys to leak blood and protein into the urine. The damage may lead to scarring of the nephrons that progresses slowly over many years. Eventually, IgA nephropathy can lead to end-stage kidney disease, sometimes called ESRD, which means the kidneys no longer work well enough to keep a person healthy. When a persons kidneys fail, he or she needs a transplant or blood-filtering treatments called dialysis.

More information is provided in the NIDDK health topic, Glomerular Diseases Overview.

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How Is The Disease Diagnosed

There is a specific blood test that can show if you have harmful antibodies attacking your lungs and kidneys.

A doctor can also test your blood and urine to find out if you have kidney disease. A urine test can check for the amount of protein, blood and other things to indicate kidney damage. A blood test for serum creatinine can be used to calculate glomerular filtration rate , which tells how well your kidneys are filtering wastes from the blood.

Your doctor may also perform a kidney biopsy to see if the kidney tissue is damaged by the antibody.

Your lungs may also be checked for damage with a chest X-ray and lung biopsy.

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Is There An Autoimmune Disease That Affects The Kidneys

Goodpasture’s Syndrome is an uncommon autoimmune disease that affects both the kidneys and the lungs. An autoimmune disease means that the immune system, which usually protects the body from infection, attacks healthy parts of the body by mistake. What causes the disease?

Chronic Kidney Disease And Autoimmune. The Kidney Disease Solution is an all-in-one program designed to improve renal health as well as reverse the effects of kidney disease. It provides you with everything you must know about kidneys and the way to treat kidney disease. The program offers a range of holistic and innovative treatment options.

Lupus nephritis is a complication of an autoimmune disease called systemic lupus erythematosus . Normally, the body’s immune system makes proteins.

In North America, about twice as many males than females have IgA nephropathy, and this pertains to both children and adults. In addition to being more common in males, IgA nephropathy is more common in Caucasians and Asians and rare in African-Americans.1

Alport syndrome is an inherited disorder that damages the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys.

At Seattle Childrens Autoimmune Kidney Disease Clinic, we treat the whole patient, not just their kidneys or their disease. At a single visit, your child will see doctors specializing in rheumatology and nephrology. Our expert team also includes nurses, physical and occupational therapists, dietitians and social workers.

May 11, 2020.

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Specialized Care For Glomerulonephritis And Other Kidney Concerns

Glomerulonephritis is a condition marked by inflammation of the kidneys. An immune system response causes it. At our Autoimmunity Institute, we offer a glomerulonephritis clinic that provides highly specialized care not available elsewhere in the region.

Our board-certified nephrologists have many years of experience caring for people with glomerulonephritis and other types of autoimmune kidney disease. We provide diagnostic, follow-up, and therapeutic care to help you manage this complex condition long term. For your comfort and convenience, we also offer advanced immunosuppressant infusion therapies at our on-site infusion suite.

Because of the unique nature of our institute, weâre able to care for patients who have other autoimmune conditions that may affect the kidneys. If an autoimmune condition affects other areas of your body, you can often get care from other specialists on the same day.

How Is Lupus Nephritis Diagnosed

Your healthcare provider performs a physical examination, reviews your symptoms and evaluates your medical history. Blood and urine tests to detect lupus nephritis include:

• Antibody blood tests check for high levels of proteins made by your immune system.
• Labs to assess kidney function.
• Urinalysis checks your urine for wastes and other abnormal substances.
• Urine protein test checks for protein in your urine.

Your healthcare provider may also do a kidney biopsy. This is a procedure to examine a small piece of tissue or sample of cells from your kidneys. A biopsy can help your healthcare provider determine the severity of your kidney damage.

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How Would You Affirm For Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which the body attacks itself. There are many different ways to approach these diseases, but the best strategy is to focus on educating self about the condition. By understanding why the body is attacking itself, you can understand what triggers the problem and how to avoid it in the future. One of the biggest mistakes people make when dealing with autoimmune diseases is assuming that theyre caused by something external like stress or diet. While both of these factors play a role, they arent the root cause of the problem. Instead, the real culprits are internal issues such as genetics, environmental toxins, and infections. Once you identify the source of the problem, you can take steps to prevent it from happening again.

Autoantibodies In Anca Vasculitis

There are 2 main kinds of autoantibodies that can be involved in ANCA vasculitis. One is called P-ANCA . This P-ANCA type of autoantibody usually targets and attaches to something called MPO , which is inside of neutrophils. The other one is called C-ANCA . This C-ANCA usually targets and attaches to something called proteinase 3 , which is also inside of neutrophils. There are blood tests to detect these autoantibodies in the bloodstream. A small percentage of people will not test positive for either the C-ANCA or P-ANCA type. We often call this ANCA-negative autoimmune vasculitis to mean that your disease looks and happens the same way but the ANCA blood test is negative.

Knowing what kind of ANCA you have can be helpful for your doctor. However, without doing the blood test, it is impossible to know from symptoms alone which type you have.

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