Common Lupus Complications: What to Look for in Your Kidneys, Heart, and Lungs
When I got diagnosed with lupus I had no idea what would follow. Lupus is known as an “invisible illness” but the effects that it can have on the body is not so invisible. Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can affect multiple organs in the body. Many of our organs also work together. So, if one organ is affected it could lead to a domino effect.
Lupus patients are like snowflakes so we all may have the same diagnosis but everyone experiences it very differently. So, knowing some common things to look out for is key when it comes to complications.
Kidney Complications: Lupus Nephritis
One of the most serious complications of lupus involves the kidneys and is known as lupus nephritis. One of my early lupus symptoms was the swelling of my legs and feet. It swelled up so bad that I couldn’t fit into my sneakers or work shoes, but luckily it was summer and I was able to rock some sandals. I also had foamy urine but didn’t realize at the time that it was connected. This was the catalyst and was what made my doctors take my symptoms more seriously. I eventually got a kidney biopsy and it was confirmed that I was at stage II. Because of early detection, there was minimal damage.
Key Symptoms of Kidney Complications
- Dark or foamy urine
- Sudden weight gain from fluid retention
- Swelling (edema) in legs, feet, or ankles
Kidney damage can occur very gradually, without pain so regular urine testing is key and should be part of every follow up even if you are feeling fine. Early detection and treatment of lupus nephritis can improve outcomes and reduce the risk of kidney complications. Lupus nephritis can cause: hypertension, kidney failure, a higher risk of getting cancer, especially one that starts in the cells of the immune system, called B-cell lymphoma and a higher risk of heart and blood vessel problems.1
Lung Complications: Pleurisy and Beyond
Lupus can affect the lungs in several ways. One of the most common complication is pleurisy, which is the inflammation of the lining of the surrounding the lungs.
I experienced was shortness of breath and sharp chest pains that got worse when I was laying down at night to sleep. When I did my scans, they mentioned that I had fluid around my lungs which caused the shortness of breath, this was called pleural effusion. Throughout the years, cysts and scarring began to develop in my lungs and we have to continue to monitor it.
Common Lung Complications to Watch For:
- Pleurisy: Sharp, stabbing chest pain exacerbated by coughing, laughing, or sneezing.2
- Pneumonitis: Inflammation of the lung tissue (often caused by infection) leading to fever, cough, and chest pain.2
- Interstitial Lung Disease: Chronic inflammation that leads to scarring, causing a dry cough and difficulty breathing.2
Heart Complications: Pericarditis and Chest Pain
Lupus patients can also experience heart complications. The scans also showed that there was fluid around my heart and that is called pericardial effusion. Common symptoms are very similar to those with the lungs in terms of shortness of breath and chest pains.
Chronic inflammation increases the risk for:
- Pericarditis: Inflammation of the sac around the heart.
- Myocarditis: Inflammation of the heart muscle.
- Endocarditis: Inflammation of the heart walls and valves.
Symptoms to watch out for is pressure or tightness in your chest, rapid of irregular heartbeats, dizziness and fatigue. Some may also experience swelling due to the heart strain. It is very important to ensure these symptoms are taken seriously because it could lead to a heart attack or a stroke.3
Navigating Multiple Diagnoses: Sjögren's and Lymphoma
Having a lupus diagnosis also increases our risk of developing another autoimmune disease or cancer. In my case, 6 years after I was diagnosed with lupus I started experiencing new symptoms of dry mouth and found a lump in my face.
After many doctor’s visit, an MRI and two biopsies it was determined that I had Sjögren’s disease and non-hodgkins lymphoma. Dealing with one autoimmune disease was hard enough but now I had two autoimmune diseases along with cancer. It made everything more complicated. I had to learn how to juggle monitoring different symptoms and treatments and navigating a new sense of my new “normal”.
Early Detection is the Key
Managing our day to day with lupus is exhausting but knowing our body is key. Monitoring our body and understanding what that feels different from our usual baseline or a normal flare is going to help protect our health in the long run.
Early detection is key and knowing the signs to look for will enable us to seek care early, talk with our doctors and prevent long term damage.
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