title: Systemic lupus erythematosus in Nepal: A review.
abstract: Nepal is a small country that is landlocked between India and China. Several ethnic groups live within the 147,181 km(2) of this country. Geographic diversity ranges from the high Himalayas to the flatlands of the Ganges plains. Lupus nephritis (LN), a complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is a common kidney problem in Nepal; but the real incidence and prevalence of SLE in Nepal is largely not known. Here, it more commonly affects people (mostly women) living in the southern flatlands, but SLE is reported to be uncommon further south in India. Even though the disease appears to be common, good quality research is uncommon in Nepali literature. This article was written to provide a review of the articles published to date about SLE in Nepal and to discuss the gaps in knowledge that require further evaluation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu, Nepal mpkafle@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Kafle
authors.affiliation: University of Sydney, Westmead Millenium Institute, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Vws
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009390:Nepal / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Asia; Nepal; developing country; kidney disease; lupus; nephritis; systemic lupus erythematosus