A.In patients with more severe forms of lupus, the kidneys may certainly be involved. In a lesser percentage of patients, this can go on to cause significant kidney disease and even kidney failure. This is why it is important to be monitored with appropriate kidney tests to make sure that your kidneys are healthy. Q. I was told that I could develop seizures or lupus of the brain or nervous system. In some patients with a more severe form of lupus, they can develop central nervous system involvement, which could include seizures as well as recurrent headaches including migraine type headaches.
Patients can also develop involvement of the cranial nerves.
When patients have severe forms of lupus that involve the internal organs, such as the kidney and central nervous system, frequently they are treated with corticosteroid therapy during the acute phase. Some patients have also been treated with intravenous gamma-globulin. The amount of sun exposure that it takes to exacerbate a patient with lupus varies from patient to patient. If you live in a sunny area, such as Texas, use of a sun block is advisable at all times when exposed to the sun. Ultraviolet light, which is responsible for the photoactivation of lupus, can penetrate even the deepest clouds and will be present even on rainy or cloudy days.