Treat Lupus Nephritis from the Root---Immunotherapy

Lupus nephritis is the main complication and cause of death of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It is an auto-immune nephritis which is characterized by damages in various systems and there are large amount of auto-antibodies in the plasma. The disease will have alternation of alleviation and acute attack and the prognosis is poor if there are visceral damages (kidney, central nervous system). It is more common among young females especially among those that are at childbearing age (20-40).

The root cause is the disorder of the auto-immune system. The B cells in SLE patients are highly active in proliferation and various antibodies will be produced such as antinuclear antibody, double chain DNA antibody, etc. These antibodies will form immune complexes with the antigens and deposit in the tissues and organs and cause immune reactions and damaged these organs. In addition, when the renal intrinsic cells are in the states of inflammation, there will be various cytokines which will cause further aggravate the inflammation damages along with white blood cells, platelet.

Treatments for Lupus nephritis include induction easing and maintenance therapy. Induction easing can help bring the illness condition under control including serology indicators, symptoms and the recovery of damaged tissues and organs. Maintenance therapy is the use of small amount of immunosuppressant to control the illness, lower the recurrent rate and reduce the side effects of these medicines. Maintenance mainly adopts glucocorticoid and cytotoxic medicines. They can greatly alleviate the symptoms and improve the prognosis, but the dosage and duration of these medicines should depend on the pathological type and weather SLE is in active phase.

Immunotherapy can treat lupus nephritis from the root. It combines the western therapy (mainly immunosuppressant) and the Chinese therapy (mainly herbal medicines). Immunosuppressant can help stop the abnormal immune reactions in the kidneys so as to protect the remaining functional nephrons from further damages. And the Chinese medicines can help rectify disorders and imbalances in the immune system and the body and provide a favorable internal environment for repairing damaged renal intrinsic cells and tissues and recover kidney functions. The greatest advantage of immunotherapy is that it can not only bring the illness under control but also go one step further to repair damaged parts and improve the immune system.