Manifestations of Lupus Nephritis

  Systemic Lupus Erythematosus(SLE) is a kind of autoimmune disease, which is caused by the generation of a series of autoantibodies duing to the immune disorders. The incidence of this disease is about 0.1%, and the proportion of males and females is 1:8. Almost all the organs in the human body are involved by the lesions of SLE, and the most commonly involved is the kidney. By biopsy, it is found that kidney lesions occur in almost all SLE patients. And when this pathological change occurs in SLE patients, it is called Lupus Nephritis. Then, what are the specific manifestations of Lupus Nephritis?
1. Systemic manifestation
· Intermittent fever
· Malar erythema: as its shape is similar to that of a butterfly, it is also called butterfly erythema.
· Painless oral ulcers
· Swelling and pain occur on the joint.
·Epilepsy or mental disorder occurs.
· Encountering cold, the hands and feet will become pale, and purplish red when they are warm, and finally recover to the normal complexion. This manifestation is also called Raynaud's phenomenon.
2. Renal manifestation
In life, patients with Lupus Nephritis usually show one of the following manifestations:
· Isolated hematuria or proteinuria
· Hematuria or proteinuria with edema, mild lumbago or hypertension, which are similar to the manifestations of Nephritis.
· Large quantities of proteinuria, hypoproteinemia and edema, which are similar to the manifestations of Nephrotic Syndrome.
· Hematuria and proteinuria with rapid decline of renal functions, which present as the manifestations of Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis.
· Manifestations which are similar to those of Chronic Kidney Failure.
3. Laboratory abnormalities
· The occurrence of Leukopenia(< 4.0 ×10/L), anemia or thrombocytopenia(< 100 ×10/L)
· The erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR) is rapid.
·The level of complement C3 is low.
·The antinuclear antibody and autoantibody are positive.
Sometimes, the manifestations of Lupus Nephritis are not typical. Therefore, when only the kidney show abnormal symptoms, Lupus Nephritis is often misdiagnosed as Nephritis, Nephrotic Syndrome or Chronic Kidney Failure. And as a result, patients will miss the best time for treatment, and Kidney Failure, Heart Failure, Septicemia or other adverse consequences will occur in patients with Lupus Nephritis. Therefore, a early diagnosis and treatment is very necessary.







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