What causes Lupus Nephritis?

Nobody really knows what causes SLE. The reason why some SLE patients develop LN is also not clear. 

However, some risk factors can increase the chance that a person with SLE will develop LN. Having one or more of these risk factors doesn't mean that you will definitely get the disease but your chances of developing it are higher than if you don't.

Risk factors for SLE and LN can include: 

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Genetic factors

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Gender

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Race or ethnicity

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Environmental factors

• Genetic factors: People with variations in some genes are more likely to get SLE and LN. There more than 80 genes identified in relation to the incidence of SLE. 

• Gender: Women are 8 to 15 times more likely than men to get SLE and are also more likely to have autoimmune diseases in general.

• Race or ethnicity: People who are Black, Hispanic, or Asian are 2 to 3 times more likely to get SLE and are more likely to die from LN than people who are white.

• Environmental factors: people are more likely to get SLE and LN if they smoke, are exposed to certain chemicals (including pesticides), or have had some types of infections.

 

References

 

1. Anders HJ, Saxena R, Zhao MH, Parodis I, Salmon JE, Mohan C. Lupus nephritis. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2020 Jan 23;6(1):7. Doi: 10.1038/s41572-019-0141-9. PMID: 31974366.
2. Pons-Estel GJ, Alarcón GS, Scofield L, Reinlib L, Cooper GS. Understanding the epidemiology and progression of systemic lupus erythematosus. Semin Arthritis Rheum. 2010 Feb;39(4):257-68. doi: 10.1016/j.semarthrit.2008.10.007. Epub 2009 Jan 10. Review.
3. GfK Roper. (2012). Lupus Awareness Survey for the Lupus Foundation of America [Executive Summary Report]. Washington, DC.
4. Hong WANG, Yi-le REN, Jun CHANG, Luo GU, Ling-Yun SUN. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Prevalence of Biopsy-Proven Lupus Nephritis
Arch Rheumatol. 2018 Mar; 33(1): 17–25. Published online 2017 Jul 25. doi: 10.5606/ArchRheumatol.2017.6127
5. Liu CC, Kao AH, Manzi S, Ahearn JM. Biomarkers in systemic lupus erythematosus: challenges and prospects for the future. Therapeutic Advances in Musculoskeletal Disease. 2013;5(4):210–233
6. Madhok R. Systemic lupus erythematosus: lupus nephritis. BMJ Clin Evid. 2015;2015:1123. Published 2015 Dec 18.
7. Hahn BH, McMahon MA, Wilkinson A, et al. American College of Rheumatology guidelines for screening, treatment, and management of lupus nephritis. Arthritis Care Res. 2012;64(6):797-808.
8. Emily J. Sutton, Julie E. Davidson, Ian N. Bruce. The Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) damage index: A systematic literature review. Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, Volume 43, Issue 3, 2013, Pages 352-361. ISSN 0049-0172. 

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