16 Causes That Lead to Renal Failure

3.    Autoimmune Diseases

People who are living with autoimmune disease experience dysfunction of the immune system. With autoimmune disorders, the body mistakes healthy tissues and organs for invading pathogens. As a result, the immune system produces antibodies and white blood cells that attack the body.

Certain autoimmune disorders, such as lupus and IgA nephropathy can cause chronic kidney disease that leads to renal failure.

IgA nephropathy, also known as Berger’s disease, occurs due to an antibody named, immunoglobulin A (IgA,) lodges in the kidneys. This blockage results in inflammation of the organs that gets progressively worse over time, leading to symptoms of pain in your side and bloody urine. It may take years or even decades for the dysfunction to produce symptoms.

Lupus is a systemic condition where the immune system attacks all the organs and tissues in the body. Doctors diagnose around 16,000 cases of Lupus each year, and the disease is most likely to occur in women between the age of 15 to 44-years old. There is no treatment for this condition, and patients must learn how to negotiate symptoms.