Autoimmune diseases are caused by unique proteins that the human body produce, they are called antibodies and are engineered to attack specific parts of the body. Some can attack different organs in different stages of the disease or many vital organs and musculo-skeletal parts of the body at once. The antibodies vary in nature and origin and they appear at any age of life, mainly in the young adulthood however the elderly may develop some diseases related to autoimmunity as well. 

Lupus is one of the most common and studied ones, it’s estimated to affect around 20,000 people in Australia. Symptoms can be vague and vary from person to person, and consequently diagnosis can be difficult. However, once diagnosed, a combination of prescribed treatment and lifestyle adjustments enables most people with lupus to enjoy an almost normal life.

At Newcastle Nephrology we focus on the management of Autoimmune diseases that affect the kidneys, from diagnosis to treatment. Unfortunately for the patient, most autoimmune diseases are not curable but are certainly controllable. With targeted therapies, we are able to control – sending the disease into remission. During this period, some patients may not require specific medications and with regular monitoring their kidney function and overall health can be spared. However it is important to be able to recognise relapses timely. We thus maintain vigilant monitoring the patient regularly so we can treat timely the disease and any other complications that may arise