
Della's story
Della shares her journey living with lupus nephritis and provides advice on how to keep your family, friends and healthcare team "Looped in on 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.
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.
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.
Lupus can affect many different parts of your body, so your treatment team will include different types of health professionals:
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:
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:
Keeping everyone on your team looped in on your health is important. Get a list of questions to ask your doctor
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.
Take a quick quiz to learn about lupus nephritis. It's time to get looped in!
This quiz is purely informational and should not take the place of consultation with your physician or any medical diagnosis.
Living with lupus nephritis can be hard. One way to help prevent kidney damage is by choosing kidney friendly foods. This includes:
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.
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.
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:
Visit the Lupus Foundation of America National Network to learn more about support groups and other community-based resources near you.
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.
Educational content supported by GSK.