Lupus Nephritis Diagnosis: Now in a nutshell in this video [FEB 2023 UPDATE]

– A lupus nephritis diagnosis affects 40% – 50% of SLE patients
– People with lupus nephritis do not feel badly until it becomes severe. Many people are surprised to hear this, but this is why we ask lupus patients to give us a urine sample regularly even when they feel great. When symptoms such as swelling, high blood pressure, and fatigue occur, there is usually significant damage already being done.
– This is why your rheumatologist asks you to do a urine sample every 3 months (hopefully)
– This is why you should do a frequent urine sample. The faster it is diagnosed, the faster it is treated, the higher the chances for remission
– These are unprecedented times for LN. We have the 1st two ever FDA-approved drugs for LN
Lupkynis (voclosporin, 1/22/21) and Benlysta (belimumab, 12/17/20)
– Both of these drugs greatly increase the chances for remission, allowing less usage of steroids

– We are able to diagnose and treat a lupus nephritis diagnosis better than ever. The recommendations in this video are in line with what the experts recommend, but it is in easy-to-understand terms. The first step is to identify as fast as we can by getting a urine sample and looking for excessive protein in the urine.

– Preventing and treating lupus nephritis takes a lot more than taking drugs. Eating an anti-inflammatory diet, exercising regularly, practicing mindfulness, learning how to lower stress, seeing your doctors regularly are all important.

​     WATCH THE VIDEO TO LEARN MORE ABOUT LUPUS NEPHRITIS!

• How it is diagnosed
• What the symptoms of lupus nephritis are
• What treatments are used
• Importance of diet and other lifestyle habit changes
• the promise of newer, better drugs that are FDA approved for lupus nephritis like Benlysa and Lupkynis
• See a comparison of Benlysta vs Lupkynis for lupus nephritis at the link in this sentence

     – Brought to you by Aurinia, Lupus Chick, The Lupus Foundation of New England, and Don Thomas, MD