With lupus, the body's immune system attacks its own tissues. Up to 60% of people with lupus will develop lupus nephritis, which occurs when lupus autoantibodies attack structures inside the kidneys that filter waste.

Rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are both autoimmune diseases in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the patient's own body. However, rheumatoid arthritis mainly focuses on the joints, while lupus can affect many different parts of the body.