Progressive renal failure in patients with lupus nephritis.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the mode of progression to renal failure in patients with lupus nephritis in relation to disease activity and responsiveness to corticosteroid therapy.


METHODS
Retrospective clinical study.


METHODS
University hospital.


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients with progressive lupus nephritis (Cr > or = 1.4 mg dl-1).


METHODS
Rapidity of progression was defined as the slope of the reciprocal of serum creatinine values. Lupus activity was scored using the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index system.


METHODS
Improvement of serum creatinine values after 6 months of therapy.


RESULTS
Rapidity of progression, which was calculated during the deterioration in kidney function, reflected systemic and serological disease activity, and moreover closely correlated with response to corticosteroid therapy.
Tanaka
H
H
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan.
Akama
H
H
Tominaga
N
N
Oshima
H
H
Ichikawa
Y
Y
Ikeda
Y
Y
D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000097:blood / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D011239:Prednisolone; D003404:Creatinine