Many patients come in to Dr. Shakil’s clinic with diabetes or high blood pressure, and while these are the two most common reasons for Chronic Kidney Disease, they are others who come with rare conditions. Last week I met a patient who suffered from glomerulonephritis, or simply inflammation of the blood vessels in the kidneys. I asked Dr. Shakil for clarification on the matter, and he explained that there are a lot of different causes for inflammation. This specific patient suffers from systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune disease that attacks certain organs in the body. In the patient's case, the kidneys were being attacked by her own immune system, which caused the inflammation. In most cases this inflammation can easily go away without treatment, with the patient we saw treatment had to take place, to avoid damage in the kidneys. The patient showed signs of Chronic GN, because excess protein was found in the urine, and the lower parts of her legs were very swollen. To counter these symptoms, Dr. Shakil put the patient on certain corticosteroids, to suppress the immune system. It is also important for the patient to reduce their intake of salt and protein. As shown in the picture above, Lupus can do extensive harm to the kidneys if not treated. If you have this condition, it is extremely important to check regularly with a doctor, as it can harm not only the kidneys, but other organs as well. If left untreated, the inflamed kidney may end up like the one on the right Sources: Hassan, Saloni Editorial Head Umair. "Nephritis – Symptoms, Causes and Home Remedies." Saloni Health & Beauty Supply. N.p., 22 Sept. 2014. Web. 27 Mar. 2017. <https://makeup.saloni.pk/2014/09/22/nephritis-symptoms-causes-and-home-remedies/>. Written by Christine Case-LoMedically Reviewed by. "Glomerulonephritis." Healthline. N.p., n.d. Web. 27 Mar. 2017. <http://www.healthline.com/health/glomerulonephritis#Symptoms3>.
1 Comment
Raylene Streuber
4/4/2017 01:56:01 pm
It still astounds me as to how many people suffer from various kidney ailments. I had no idea that those with lupus are also affected!
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AuthorMuhammad Ali Archives
May 2017
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