8. Proteinuria and Autoimmune Disorders: The Internal Battle
Imagine your body’s defense system turning against you. That’s precisely what happens in autoimmune disorders like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. The immune system misidentifies kidney cells as foreign invaders, launching an attack and, in doing so, compromising the organ’s function.
The first thing that might occur is inflammation in the glomerulus, the kidney’s filtration unit. This impedes the glomerulus’s ability to retain protein effectively, leading to proteinuria. Lupus nephritis is a prime example where this scenario unfolds.
Interestingly, the immune response can also affect the permeability of the renal tubules, another part of the kidney that aids in the reabsorption of filtered substances. In autoimmune conditions, this permeability can increase, leading to higher levels of protein in urine.(8)
