Surgery is not used to treat mild or moderate symptoms of lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus, or SLE). Surgery may be considered for people with lupus who have permanent, life-threatening kidney damage. A kidney transplant or kidney dialysis may be done instead of continuing long-term treatment with high doses of medications that have serious side effects.

• If kidney disease from lupus does not respond to high-dose corticosteroids and other immunosuppressive medications, kidney dialysis or transplant are reasonable options.
• For unknown reasons, overall lupus disease activity is often less severe during dialysis and after kidney transplant.