How is lupus nephritis caused?
Disease description:
My uncle was recently diagnosed with nephritis, which is a type known as lupus nephritis. I would like to ask, what causes lupus nephritis?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
The causes of lupus nephritis are complex and multifactorial, mainly including the following:
1. Genetic factors: Genetic susceptibility genes are located on the 6th pair of chromosomes. Individuals with a family history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have an increased risk of developing the disease.
2. Sex hormone factors: Estrogen is closely associated with the development of this disease; therefore, lupus nephritis predominantly affects women of childbearing age, and increased estrogen levels may exacerbate the condition.
3. Environmental factors: Such as viral infections, exposure to sunlight or ultraviolet radiation. In particular, photosensitivity is observed in some patients with lupus nephritis, which can trigger or worsen the disease.
4. Medications and dietary factors: Certain drugs (e.g., antihypertensive medications, sulfonamides) and foods (e.g., smoked foods, tobacco) may induce the disease.
The development of lupus nephritis results from the combined effects of multiple factors. Prevention and treatment must take into account all these contributing elements.
