title: [Treatment of lupus nephritis].
abstract: Approximately 50% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus will develop lupus nephritis. Signs of renal involvement such as proteinuria > or = 0.5 g/24 h especially with glomerular hematuria and/or cellular casts should be an indication for biopsy. Goals of immunosuppressive treatment in lupus nephritis is remission with avoidance of treatment-re- lated harms. Initial treatment for patients with class III (+/- V) and class IV (+/- V) LN are intravenous cyclophosphamide (total dose 3 g over 3 months) or mycophenolate mofetil (or mycophenolic acid) in target dose of 3 g/day for 6 months, always in combination with glucocorticoids, wihile in class V, mycophenolate mofetil in combination with glucocorticoids is recommended. In patients improving after initial treatment, mycophenolate mofetil at lower doses (2 g/day) or azatioprine (2 mg/kg/day), both in combination with low dose prednisone for at least 3 years are recommended. In resistant and relapse cases switch from cyclophosphamide to mycophenolate mofetil, or vice versa, or rituximab is recommended.
authors.forename: Srdan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Novak
mesh_terms: D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007668:Kidney / Q000473:pathology; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D009173:Mycophenolic Acid; D011241:Prednisone