Lupus Nephritis is a serious complication of systemic lupus erythematous
(SLE). About one-third to one-half of the patients with SLE may suffer from
kidney damage. If untreated in time, Lupus Nephritis can progress into Kidney
Failure. Therefore, it is very important to reverse kidney damage in Lupus
Nephritis as early as possible.
The patients with SLE have autoimmune deficiency. The antibodies in their
body can not make difference between the foreign invaders and the body own
tissues. When the external antigens like virus, bacteria and so on invade into
body, the antibodies are activated. However, they fail to fight against those
foreigner invaders thus leading to a large amount of immune complex C3, IgG, IgM
depositing glomerular epithelial cells. Then these immune complexes promote an
inflammatory response by activating complement and attracting inflammatory
cells. As a result, the kidneys are inflamed and lose their function
gradually.
The conventional medications used in the treatment of Lupus Nephritis mainly
include corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs. Corticosteroids can resist
the inflammatory inflammation to some extent so as to delay the Lupus Nephritis.
However, it can bring huge side effects to the patients like obesity, high blood
glucose, weight gain and so on. Immunosuppressive drugs can suppress immunity
system activity that damages the kidneys. However, it can also restrain the
normal immune reaction. Therefore, the patients are very prone to catch colds
and other diseases. What's the most important point is that they can not remove
the immune complexes at all so the inflammatory reaction can not be
inhibited.
In order to prevent the further kidney damage, it is the key to remove immune
complex and stop the abnormal immune reaction. Chinese medicine plays an
important role in the treatment of Lupus Nephritis. The therapeutic mechanism is
as follows:
1. Dilate blood vessels
Dilating blood vessels can improve the renal ischemia and anoxia resulting
from immune complexes. It can guarantee sufficient oxgen and blood supplement so
as to prevent further decline in renal function as well as build a favorable
environment for repairing the impaired epithelial cells.
2. Anti-inflammation
Chinese medicines can anti-inflammation function. They can decrease restrain
the inflammatory reaction in kidneys to some extent so as to bloke further
damage to kidneys.
3. Degrading
Chinese medicines can degrade the immune complexes and extracellular matrix.
Then they will be passed out into urine. As a result, the fundamental cause of
kidney damage is diminished.
Chinese medicines can provide some nutrients that can promote the
self-repairing of the damaged renal functional cells. However, if the cells are
necrotic, the medicines are no use for this part of cells.
After the above four therapeutic processes, the patients' kidney damage will
be reversed to some extent.