Are You Looped In On Lupus Nephritis?

Woman talking to doctor, lupus nephritis
Did you know that lupus can affect your kidneys, also known as lupus nephritis? If you have lupus, it is important to talk to your doctor about your risk for lupus nephritis and how to protect your kidneys for as long as possible.
Medically reviewed by
AKF's Medical Advisory Committee
Last updated
May 1, 2025

What is lupus nephritis?

Lupus nephritis is permanent kidney damage caused by lupus, an autoimmune disease that affects many parts of your body. Autoimmune diseases cause your immune system, which normally protects us from infections, to attack your healthy cells. Lupus nephritis happens when your immune system attacks your kidneys. Your kidneys are vital to life, they filter your blood and remove waste and extra fluid from your body. When your kidneys are damaged, they do not work as well as they should, and waste products can build up in your bloodstream. 

How can I know if lupus nephritis has damaged my kidneys?

The best way to know if your kidneys are being damaged by your lupus is to get your kidney function tested regularly. If you have lupus, talk to your doctor about test options and how often you should have these tests done. Tests for kidney function include urine tests, blood tests, biopsy, and imaging tests. 

  • uACR (urine albumin-to-creatine ratio) test: a urine test that measures the amount of albumin (protein) in your urine to the level of creatinine (a waste product present in your blood). Sometimes when lupus attacks the kidney, protein can leak into the urine. This test is helpful for detecting early-stage kidney damage, especially if you are at higher risk due to lupus.
  • Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test: a blood test that measures how much urea nitrogen is in your blood. Urea nitrogen is a waste product that should be filtered out by your kidneys, but if they are damaged, the amount in your blood can go up.
  • Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) test: a blood test that measures how much creatinine is in your blood. Creatinine is a waste product that should be filtered out by your kidneys, if they are damaged the amount in your blood can go up. 
  • Kidney biopsy: a procedure where doctors take a small piece of tissue from your kidneys and examine it under a microscope for any evidence of damage. This is usually done after tests such as UACR, BUN, or eGFR.  
  • Imaging tests (computed tomography (CT) scans, ultrasounds or sonograms): these tests can show your doctor any physical changes in your kidneys, such as an abnormal shape, disruption in blood flow to your kidneys, kidney stones, cysts, or tumors. This can help them identify the cause of your kidney disease.   

Finding and treating lupus nephritis early can help prevent serious damage. If you have lupus but have not been told you have lupus nephritis, you should be tested at least once a year. If you have some kidney damage your doctor may decide to test more often to make sure the kidney damage is not getting worse.  

Visit our lupus nephritis page to learn more about this autoimmune disease.

Who will be on my treatment team?

Lupus can affect many different parts of your body, so your treatment team will include different types of health professionals:

  • Nephrologist (a kidney doctor)
  • Rheumatologist (a doctor who treats autoimmune diseases)
  • Cardiologist (a heart doctor) 
  • Dermatologist (a skin doctor)
  • Pulmonologist (a lung doctor) 
  • Neurologist (a brain and spine doctor) 
  • Gastroenterologist (a stomach and intestines doctor) 

Since lupus can cause damage to different parts of your body, you might interact with other health professionals. 

Lupus can damage your organs, and if it lasts for 6 months or longer, this damage is considered to be permanent, and it might affect your health. Organs and systems in the body that are commonly damaged by lupus include: 

  • Kidneys
  • Heart
  • Lungs
  • Skin
  • Gastrointestinal tract (stomach, small and large intestines, live, pancreas, gall bladder) 
  • Eyes
  • Bones
  • Brain and Spine 
  • Blood cells (red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets)

 

Working with multiple providers

Lupus can affect multiple parts of your body so you will likely be working with multiple providers. It's important to keep all your healthcare providers informed about your health but it can be challenging. Here are some ways you can confirm information is being shared and everyone on your healthcare team is updated: 

  • Identify one of your providers to be the point person to share your medical records and updates to other team members (often this is a primary care doctor or rheumatologist) 
  • Keep a list of all your doctors, their contact information, and what they do for you. Share this list with everyone on your medical team
  • Keep a list of all your medicines, including how much you take and how often you take it
    • Make sure to include any over-the-counter medicines as well as vitamins and supplements 
    • You can also keep track of any side effects you want to share with your care team

Keeping everyone on your team looped in on your health is important. Get a list of questions to ask your doctor

Looped in on Lupus - 4 people

Who is more likely to get lupus nephritis?

9 in 10 people with lupus are women.

Lupus is more common in Black women.

About 50% of adults with lupus develop lupus nephritis.   

Lupus nephritis typically occurs in people aged 20-40 years.

Blacks, Hispanics, and Asian Americans are more likely to have lupus nephritis than whites. 

How much do you know about lupus and the kidneys?

Take a quick quiz to learn about lupus nephritis. It's time to get looped in!

  • Question 1 of 5

    Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect your:

    Select one

    That's correct

    Sorry, that's not correct

    Lupus is an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases cause your immune system to attack your healthy cells. Lupus can affect many parts of the body. When your kidneys become affected, it is called lupus nephritis. Lupus nephritis happens when your immune system attacks your kidneys.

This quiz is purely informational and should not take the place of consultation with your physician or any medical diagnosis.

Living well with lupus nephritis

Living with lupus nephritis can be hard. One way to help prevent kidney damage is by choosing kidney friendly foods. This includes: 

  • Choosing foods that are low in sodium (salt)
  • Choosing foods that are low in phosphorous and potassium
  • Choosing whole grains 
  • Focusing on fresh fruits and vegetables
  • Limiting sugary drinks 

NOTE: Depending on your kidney damage, your doctor may recommend that you limit protein and fluid intake. 

Visit Kidney Kitchen to learn more about eating well for lupus nephritis and to find kidney friendly recipes.

Lady with a ribbon swirling around her

Are you dealing with stress, anxiety or fatigue?

Everyday life can be overwhelming, especially when you are living with a chronic disease like lupus nephritis. Are you dealing with stress, anxiety, or fatigue? There are steps you can take each day to take care of your mental health.

How can I find a support group for lupus nephritis?

Having a chronic disease like lupus nephritis can feel isolating. But you are not alone. One of the best ways to cope with a major life change is to connect with people who are going through a similar experience.

Benefits of joining a support group include:

  • Being able to talk openly and honestly with people who understand what you are going through
  • Learning tips for managing lupus from people who have been living with it for longer than you
  • Learning more about lupus nephritis and opportunities for patients to connect and learn
  • Finding new ways to live with lupus nephritis
  • Feeling empowered and supported by your new community 
  • Making new friends

Visit the Lupus Foundation of America National Network to learn more about support groups and other community-based resources near you.

Where can I get more information about lupus nephritis?

How can I be the best advocate for myself? 

Know your risk for lupus nephritis. Find out what you can do to protect your kidneys. Be engaged with your healthcare. Speak up to get the tests, treatment, and care you need.

Hear from people living with lupus nephritis

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