published by nonprofit Johns Hopkins Press
posted in Nephritis, kidneys, urinary tract on May 10, 2021 by
Updated June 30, 2024
Lupus patients should provide a urine sample regularly to see if there is possible inflammation of the kidneys from lupus (called lupus nephritis). Catching lupus nephritis very early before someone feels sick greatly increases the chances of getting it into remission with treatment. We have FDA-approved drugs for lupus nephritis, including belimumab (Benlysta), and voclosporin (Lupkynis).
NOTE: Johns Hopkins University Press, publisher of The Lupus Encyclopedia, is a nonprofit publisher. If you purchase JHUP books, like The Lupus Encyclopedia, you support projects like Project MUSE.
It is incredibly important to collect a proper urine sample. Collecting it improperly can lead to false results. My blog article on urine collecting explains how to collect a urine sample properly for testing.
Doctors examine many different parts of the urine. Most importantly, in lupus, they look for increased protein (proteinuria).
Other important potential abnormalities include those of the pH, concentration, white blood cell count, red blood cell count, and if there are casts or bacteria (bacteriuria) present.
– Why getting a lupus nephritis urine sample is important for all systemic lupus patients
– How to properly collect a urine specimen: Systemic lupus patients should give a urine sample every 3 months per the 2020 EULAR (European Union League Against Rheumatism) guidelines developed for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of lupus nephritis. Catching a mid-stream clean catch sample is best.
– The symptoms of lupus nephritis
Did you know that no symptoms are the most common in early lupus nephritis?
– The different kinds of lupus nephritis. We divide them into 5 classes: we usually do not treat classes I and II. Class VI requires dialysis. The classification system does not include all possible results, like “lupus podocytopathy.”
– Doctors do a kidney biopsy to diagnose lupus nephritis accurately.
– The importance of diet, exercise, and mindfulness. Practicing “The Lupus Secrets” is one of the best things you can do!
– How it is treated
– What happens when it is not treated? Classes III, and IV usually result in complete kidney failure and the need for dialysis when not treated. This occurs almost 100% of the time. Yet, many patients can go into remission with treatment if diagnosed and treated quickly.
– How to get the most out of virtual online doctor visits.
– An online support group for people who have lupus nephritis.
Read chapter 12 of The Lupus Encyclopedia, edition 2
Look up your symptoms, conditions, and medications in the Index of The Lupus Encyclopedia
If you enjoy the information from The Lupus Encyclopedia, please click the “SUPPORT” button at the top of the page to learn how you can help.
If you have lupus nephritis, what has your experience been? What do you recommend for other patients?
Do you have any questions to ask Dr. Thomas?
Please click on “Leave a Comment” above to comment.
Click on “SUPPORT” at the top of the page to learn how you can support “The Lupus Encyclopedia“
Read more in The Lupus Encyclopedia, edition 2
Look up your symptoms, conditions, and medications in the Index of The Lupus Encyclopedia
If you enjoy the information from The Lupus Encyclopedia, please click the “SUPPORT” button at the top of the page to learn how you can help.
If you have lupus, what has your experience been? What do you recommend for other patients?
Do you have any questions to ask Dr. Thomas?
Please click on “Leave a Comment” above to comment.
Click on “SUPPORT” at the top of the page to learn how you can support “The Lupus Encyclopedia“
[…] Proteinuria in Lupus Nephritis: Video tips and the bottom line of Americans with systemic lupus. There are more than 100,000 Americans with lupus nephritis. – How to properly collect a urine specimen – The symptoms of lupus nephritis, such as foamy urine (due to proteinuria in lupus nephritis), […]
Leave a comment