Early recognition of lupus nephritis is important because it can lead to what outcome if untreated?

• A. Reversible liver disease
• B. Irreversible kidney damage
• C. Permanent hearing loss
• D. Pulmonary embolism

Answer: (B)

Untreated lupus nephritis can progress to irreversible kidney damage. In lupus nephritis, immune complexes from systemic lupus erythematosus deposit in the kidneys, triggering inflammation and scarring of the glomeruli. Over time this injures the filtering units, causing a falling glomerular filtration rate, protein in the urine, edema, and high blood pressure. If the inflammatory process isn’t controlled, the damage continues and can lead to chronic kidney disease or end-stage renal disease, possibly requiring dialysis or transplant.

Early recognition lets clinicians suppress the immune response with therapies such as corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants, and protect kidney function with medications like ACE inhibitors or ARBs to reduce proteinuria. This combination helps halt or slow progression and preserve renal function.

Other listed outcomes aren’t typical consequences of lupus nephritis itself, so the focus is on preventing irreversible kidney damage through timely management.