Is Steroid Therapy Useful for Lupus Nephritis

Steroid Therapy for Lupus Nephritis

In most hospital, Steroid therapy is the most common therapy for lupus nephritis. However, most people have found that their condition always relapse by using this therapy. Is Steroid therapy useful for lupus nephritis?

Lupus nephritis
Almost every patient with lupus (SLE) has kidney damage and about 60% of patients have nephritis. Renal failure is the main cause of death for patients. Lupus is a type of autoimmune disease which is featured with a disordered immune system. Antibodies in the body do not only fight against foreign invaders but also attack the body cells as well. So many immune complexes (the combination of antibodies and antigens) are formed in the blood. When they deposit in the kidneys, they will arouse an active immune reaction that will give a great damage to kidney tissues. How Can Lupus Nephritis Patients Recover?

Steroid therapy for lupus nephritis
Due to the active immune reaction, “little holes” will present in the kidney tissues. So protein or blood cells will be leaked from the blood into the urine. In this way, people will lose much protein, which will lead to many symptoms, such as swelling or thrombus. Steroid therapy uses the feature of Steroid to block the “little holes” in order to reduce the protein loss. The proteinuria can be removed only by using the Steroid therapy. However, people cannot bear the side effects of Steroid drugs. So many people are seeking other therapy for lupus nephritis after using Steroid therapy for a long time.

Side effects of Steroid therapy for lupus nephritis
Steroid drugs lead to disordered metabolism of water and other substances. People would have swelling, high blood pressure, and glycosuria. Most of patients have moon-face, thin skin, crinosity, acne, myasthenia and amyotrophy etc.
Steroid therapy can trigger to have infections. Steroid restrains the immune system to fight against virus or germs. So people will have serious infection when they use Steroid for a long time.

Osteoporosis will be formed by the Steroid therapy. Rib and vertebra are the main bone which is affected by Steroid. It increases the metabolism of phosphorus, so their bone is not as stiff as before.

Are you seeking a better therapy for lupus nephritis? You can email to renalhealth@hotmail.com for more details about our individualized treatment which can help you get a good curative effect with no Steroid.