Can Rheumatoid Arthritis Damage Kidneys?

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system becomes confused and attacks the joints of the body. There is some question as to whether or not the disease can damage the kidneys.

Kidney Involvment Rare

• According to LifeSpan.org, it is rare for Rheumatoid Arthritis to cause kidney damage.

Related Diseases at Fault

• AARP reports on their website AARP.org that kidney damage is caused by other autoimmune diseases that are common among Rheumatoid Arthritis patients, such as lupus or scleroderma.

Rheumatoid Vasculitis

• The Cleveland Clinic tells site visitors that some Rheumatoid Arthritis patients develop a condition called Rheumatoid Vasculitis, which causes swelling of the arteries and can cause damage to organs in the body, including kidneys.

Medication Issues

• Medications used to treat RA may cause kidney damage. For example, Minocycline or Cyclosporine may affect kidney function.

Gout

• Gout is an arthritis closely related to Rheumatoid Arthritis. Arthritis.org tells readers that Gout may include kidney involvement.