Prognostic value of renal biopsy and clinical variables in patients with lupus nephritis and normal serum creatinine.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate factors with possible influence on the renal outcome in patients with lupus nephritis but without chronic renal insufficiency (CRI).


METHODS
Renal biopsies from 94 patients were re-assessed with regard to WHO class, activity, chronicity and tubulointerstitial indices without knowledge of clinical features. The outcome parameters were CRI defined as irreversibly increased serum creatinine and renal end stage disease.


RESULTS
The risk ratios (RR) of developing CRI were 2.6 for active urinary sediment, 3.1 for hyaline thrombi and 7.3 for glomerular leukocyte exudation. The RR of renal end stage disease was 5.0 when the duration of renal disease exceeded one year at the time of biopsy and 4.3 when biopsy disclosed a class IV lesion. Glomerular sclerosis was also associated to renal end stage disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Early renal biopsy and the abovementioned signs of active renal disease carry prognostic information that may have significant therapeutic implications.
Jacobsen
S
S
Department of Rheumatology at Copenhagen University Hospital at Hvidovre, Denmark.
Starklint
H
H
Petersen
J
J
Ullman
S
S
Junker
P
P
Voss
A
A
Rasmussen
J M
JM
Tarp
U
U
Poulsen
L H
LH
van Overeem Hansen
G
G
Skaarup
B
B
Hansen
T M
TM
Pødenphant
J
J
Halberg
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001706:Biopsy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D007223:Infant; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011507:Proteinuria; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000032:analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D012709:Serum Albumin; D003404:Creatinine