title: Lupus nephritis: a 13-year experience.
abstract: Over a 13-year period 42 patients (35 women) with systemic lupus erythematosus and renal disease had a renal biopsy. Renal involvement as the first and only manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus was common in men. The commonest reason for renal biopsy (23/42) was the finding of proteinuria with or without haematuria. One-half of all patients had diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis. Twenty-seven patients were treated with both prednisone and azathioprine and 10 with prednisone alone at some stage during follow-up. The renal biopsy findings were useful in assessing the severity of renal involvement and prognosis. A five-year renal survival of 72% was observed. Diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis with renal insufficiency was associated with a poor prognosis. Those patients who were established on the dialysis/transplant programme became symptom free on no treatment.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Walker
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Swainson
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lynn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D001379:Azathioprine; D011241:Prednisone