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Lupus with kidneys spilling protein

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Posted 2/28/2008 3:19 AM (GMT 0)
My rheumy said he's been waiting for me to go into a severe flare because my Anti dsDNA has been so high.  Last week I got my blood tests back and the Anti dsDNA had jumped 500 to 2,697.   Today the urinalysis showed my kidneys were spilling protein.  I know that I'll be heading to a nephrologist.  Those of you who have this problem now, if can tell me what is ahead for me I would greatly appreciate it.  In the past the rheumy said it would either be Imuran or chemo. 
Posted 2/28/2008 4:42 PM (GMT 0)
hi gidget,

i'm sorry that you are having kidney problems with your lupus, i know how awful that can be.  i had a transplant in '06 bcuz the lupus had attacked them so many times for so long that they just began to shutdown.  How come your rheumy didnt put you on prednisone?  now as for the meds for me, cellcept works the best to keep my kidney going.  the imuran didnt work for me they gave it to me when i was first diagnosed and i flared again within a year, and the chemo i took cytoxan in '98 and it didnt work (went into complete renal failure and did dialysis) and then i took cytoxan again in '03 and i had to stop cuz it kept lowering my blood count. and then i ended up with a transplant.  i hope things go better for you than they did for me. good luck and i will keep in my thoughts and prayers.

Posted 2/29/2008 5:26 AM (GMT 0)
Hey Gidget. I also have Lupus nephritis. It started in 99 for me. The nephrologist will probably do a 24 hour urine collection on you to see how much protein you spill in a 24 hour period. They will also do blood work to check you bun/creatinine. (these are indicators, along with other things, as to how well your kidneys are functioning) I've done prednisone, cellcept, cytoxan, imuran, the whole gamut. My protein stayed extremely high for years. Suddenly, recently, my kidney function increased to 74 percent; my protein is down to nil (I have had up to 10 grams) and just went they told me they would no longer treat my kidneys and i'd eventually need dialysis and a transplant; i'm better. EVerybody's course is different. It's a scarey road but they've come a long way in treating lupus nephritis. Some people spill protein and it resolves and they have no serious effects from it. I hope that's the case for you. Keep us posted. God Bless you, Judy
Posted 3/1/2008 4:34 AM (GMT 0)
Proteinuria is usually treatable with an ace inhibitor like lisinopril.

I had it and it caused rather severe edema.  A neprologist will probably want to do urine tests (24 hour) and a kidney biopsy.  Had all of them and found stage 2 damage.  After treatment with lisinopril my kidneys have returned to normal.  It will take a few months if the damage is not bad.

Don't anticipate but make an appointment soon.  Make sure the nephrologist is familiar with lupus.

Bill

Posted 3/2/2008 4:35 PM (GMT 0)
Thank you all for replying. I should get my 24 hour urine test results on Monday. Hopefully it was just glitch with something else and it's not the lupus attacking my kidneys. I'll let you know the results.

On a more aggravating note I fell and hurt my hand and wrist last week, went to the hospital for xrays two days later because I had no range of motion and the pain. I received the bill in the mail yesterday but still haven't received the results of the xrays. This is a small town so what do you expect. :(
Posted 3/2/2008 9:31 PM (GMT 0)
Gidget, I had about a 9 month time period where I was spilling protein in my urine and my 24 hr tests were elevated, but not so high that I needed a biopsy. For some reason, when I started prednisone, the protein pretty much resolved, so I think my situation was pretty mild, thankfully. My urine is tested every few months now, but so far, so good. I hope your 24hr test turns out okay. Take care and keep us posted on how you are doing and what the results of your labs are.
Posted 3/3/2008 3:26 AM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the info hippimom. I should get my test results back tomorrow. Hopefully it won't be too bad.
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