What is the Difference Between SLE and Lupus Nephritis

The key difference between SLE and lupus nephritis is that SLE is an autoimmune disease that affects the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels, while lupus nephritis is a type of kidney disease that is triggered by systemic lupus erythematosus.

Lupus occurs when the immune system attacks its own tissues. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common form of lupus that can harm the skin, joints, kidneys, and brain. The other forms are cutaneous lupus erythematosus (which affects only the skin), drug-induced lupus erythematosus, and neonatal lupus. Moreover, when systemic lupus erythematosus affects the kidneys, it is known as lupus nephritis. Lupus nephritis is a kidney disease caused by systemic lupus erythematosus.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is SLE  
3. What is Lupus Nephritis
4. Similarities – SLE and Lupus Nephritis
5. SLE vs. Lupus Nephritis in Tabular Form
6. Summary – SLE vs. Lupus Nephritis

What is SLE?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common form of lupus. It occurs when the immune system attacks its own tissues. It affects a wide range of organs, such as joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels, so it can be fatal. Common symptoms of SLE may include severe fatigue, joint pain, swelling in the joints, headaches, a rash on the cheeks and nose, hair loss, anemia, clotting problems, fingers turning white or blue or finger tingling when cold, digestive tract problems, and heart problems. SLE can be triggered by genetics, environment (ultraviolet rays, certain medications, viruses, physical or emotional stress, and trauma), and hormones (women are affected more, and estrogens play a role).

SLE can be diagnosed through family history, physical examination, blood tests like antibody tests, and a complete blood count and urinalysis. Furthermore, treatment options for SLE may include anti-inflammatory medications for joint pain and stiffness, prescribed steroid creams for rashes, corticosteroids to reduce immune responses, antimalarial drugs for skin and joint problems, and disease-modifying drugs (DMRDs), or targeted immune system agents for immune problems.

What is Lupus Nephritis?

Lupus nephritis is a type of kidney disease that is triggered by systemic lupus erythematosus  (SLE). This type of kidney disease may get worse over time and lead to kidney failure. Normally, in adults who have lupus, 5 out of 10 will have lupus nephritis. In children who have lupus, 8 of 10 will have lupus nephritis. Therefore, lupus nephritis is a common complication of SLE. African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and Asian Americans are more likely to get lupus nephritis than Caucasians. However, lupus nephritis is more common in men than in women. The symptoms of this condition may include foamy urine and edema, swelling in the legs, feet, ankles, hands, or face,  high blood pressure, joint pain or swelling, muscle pain, fever without any cause, a red rash often on the face (across the nose and cheeks).

Lupus nephritis can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood test, urine test, and kidney biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for lupus nephritis may include prescribed corticosteroid (prednisone) and a drug to suppress the immune system (cyclophosphamide, mycophenolate mofetil, and hydroxychloroquine), high blood pressure maintaining medicine such as ACE inhibitors and ARBs, diuretics, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers, dialysis, and kidney transplantation.

What are the Similarities Between SLE and Lupus Nephritis?

• Lupus nephritis is a common complication of SLE.
• Both are autoimmune conditions.
• Both may have similar symptoms, such as skin rashes on the face, pain, swelling of the body parts, etc.
• They can be diagnosed through physical examination, blood test, and urine test.
• They can be treated through specific medications

What is the Difference Between SLE and Lupus Nephritis?

SLE is an autoimmune disease that affects joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels, while lupus nephritis is a type of kidney disease that is triggered by systemic lupus erythematosus. This is the key difference between SLE and lupus nephritis. Furthermore, the triggers of SLE may include genetics, environment (ultraviolet rays, certain medications, viruses, physical or emotional stress, and trauma), and sex and hormones (women are affected more, and estrogens play a role). On the other hand, the triggers of lupus nephritis may include suffering from SLE, ethnicity (African Americans, Hispanics/Latinos, and Asian Americans are affected more), and sex (men are affected more).

The infographic below presents the differences between SLE and lupus nephritis in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – SLE vs. Lupus Nephritis

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that occurs when the immune system of the body attacks its own tissues and organs. There are four main types of lupus such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), cutaneous lupus erythematosus, drug-induced lupus erythematosus, and neonatal lupus (neonatal lupus erythematosus). SLE is the most common form of lupus, which affects a wide range of organs such as joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels. SLE and lupus nephritis are two associated medical conditions. This is because lupus nephritis is a type of kidney disease that SLE triggers. So, this summarizes the difference between SLE and lupus nephritis.

Reference:

1.“What Is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)?” Lupus Foundation of America.
2. “Lupus Nephritis: Symptoms, Treatment and Complications.” American Kidney Fund.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Systemic lupus erythematosus lymphadenopathy – high mag” By Nephron – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis – high mag” By Nephron – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia