Examinations for the Patients with Lupus Nephritis

Lupus Nephritis is caused by systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). About one-third to one-half of the patients with SLE develops Lupus Nephritis. Renal Failure is a common death cause of lupus patients. Therefore, early inspection and treatment is very important for the patients with Lupus Nephritis. If you are a lupus patient and have the possibility of developing Lupus Nephritis, you need to take the following examinations to get a confirmed diagnosis.

1. Routine urine test

The routine urine test result can show proteinuria, microscopic hematuria, white blood cells and red blood cells and cast urine in varying degrees.

2 Blood test

Most of the patients with Lupus Nephritis have moderate anemia. In some cases, they may have hemolytic anemia and the number of blood leukocyte decrease as well as the platelet is less than 100*109/ L. In serious cases, the patients are also accompanied by reversible decline in creatinine clearance rate (Ccr), increased blood urine nitrogen (BUN), high creatinine level, decreased blood albumin or liver transaminase level increases.

2. Immunologic test

Various kinds of serum antibodies are positive and γ-globulin increases obviously. The immune complexes in blood circulation are positive and the patients may suffer hypocomplementemia, especially in the active period of lupus. Moreover, the blood SLE cells are positive.

3. Imaging exam

B-ultrasound exam can manifest enlarged kidneys, which imply the patients with Lupus Nephritis have acute pathological changes. In some cases, the patients are accompanied by enlarged liver, spleen or pericarditis.

4. Renal biopsy

Renal biopsy can tell the patients with Lupus Nephritis the pathological type and the lesion activity. Renal biopsy plays an important role in confirming diagnosis of Lupus Nephritis and making therapeutic schedule.


In addition, Nephrotic Syndrome may be the primary symptom of Lupus Nephritis. In this case, the patients should eliminate the possibility of Primary Nephrotic Syndrome. If the patients are also accompanied by pneumorrhagia, they should distinguish Lupus Nephritis from Goodpasture Syndrome.