“Themed” session: Kidneys in Lupus
27 March 2010
Angelo King AVR, UST Hospital

This special meeting focused on one of the major organs affected by lupus, the kidney.

Before the session started, patients filled-up a “How are you?” survey to evaluate current patient-reported outcomes, their quality of life, and the disease activity. Following this, was a “dipstick your urine” session where each patient learned how to properly collect urine and test this for protein, blood, leucocytes and other elements seen in a routine urinalysis.
 
The program kicked-off with a lecture on “Kidneys in lupus” given by Dr. Joenavin D. Ngo, Rheumatology research fellow at the UST Hospital. The scientific presentation tackled basic information on kidneys, its purpose and role in our body, what happens to the kidneys in lupus, the tests to detect and monitor kidney problems, and how we can take care of our kidneys.

The lecture was followed by a moving lupus story shared by 23 year-old male patient  Mark Anthony Osorio from Negros Occidental. As a patient with lupus nephritis, he narrated his struggles and triumphs with kidney failure, dialysis, and finally transplant. Mark’s successful struggle gave hope and light to other patients with kidney involvement.

The session ended with a lively ‘question and answer’ discussion with nephrologist Dr. Porschia Comes-Natividad, covering several issues from diet to vitamins to dialysis.

Dr. Sandra Navarra concluded the program with a presentation on the possible role of environment in lupus – reiterating the importance of our individual responsibility in caring for our environment, conserving water and proper recycling in order to protect the future of our children. This was timely as March 27 commemorated “Earth Hour”.