[Lupus nephritis: 211 cases].
OBJECTIVE
Renal involvement is one of the most severe and frequent manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus. Prognosis factors are variable in the different studies. We analyze in 211 patients clinical, biological and histologic characteristics of lupus nephritis and the different prognosis factors.


METHODS
It's a retrospective study in 211 with lupus nephritis followed-up between 1975 and 2003.


RESULTS
There were 195 women and 16 men aged meanly of 28,8 years. At first presentation, we noted hypertension in 32,3% of cases, nephrotic syndrome in 47,7% of cases and renal failure in 51,6% of cases. histologic examination of kidney revealed class III in 59 cases, class IV in 97 cases and class V in 33 cases. Two hundred and five patients were treated by corticosteriods associated with immunosupressive agents in 95 cases. After a mean follow-up of 103 months (2-289 months), we obtained remission in 55,3% deterioration of renal function in 34,8% with end stage renal failure in 14,7% and relapses occurred in 51% of cases. Thirty-three patients died. Age <24 years, hypertension, nephrotic syndrome and initial renal failure were statistically associated with deterioration of renal function.


CONCLUSIONS
Lupus nephritis is severe in our patients with predominance of proliferative forms. Age <24 years, hypertension, nephrotic syndrome and initial renal failure were statistically associated with deterioration of renal function.
Béji
S
S
Service de néphrologie et de médecine interne, hôpital Charles-Nicolle, boulevard du 9-avril-1938, 1006 BS Tunis, Tunisie. soumaya.beji@rns.tn <soumaya.beji@rns.tn>
Kaaroud
H
H
Ben Moussa
F
F
Abderrahim
E
E
Goucha
R
R
Ben Hamida
F
F
Hedri
H
H
El Younsi
F
F
Ben Abdallah
T
T
Kheder
A
A
Ben Maiz
H
H
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology; D007668:Kidney / Q000502:physiology; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D009393:Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones