Edema or Swelling

Approximately 40 percent of lupus patients between the ages 20 and 40 will experience complications due to a kidney infection. Usually surfacing around five years after lupus symptoms begin, lupus nephritis is the inflammation of your kidney’s and the result is an inability for your body to regulate fluid levels properly. The most common early signs are a swelling of hands, feet, ankles and eyelids as well as reddish, foamy or frothy urine.

Lupus nephritis is a dangerous condition as it causes waste and blood build up in your body. In addition to swelling, if left untreated your kidney’s can become scarred and damaged to the point where they may fail; a condition known as end-stage renal disease. At this point, dialysis would be needed to empty your body of excess fluid or a kidney transplant would become necessary.