title: Treatments for Lupus Nephritis: A Systematic Review and Network Metaanalysis.
abstract: To compare benefits and harms of lupus nephritis (LN) induction and maintenance treatments.
  
  
  
  We performed a systematic review and Bayesian network metaanalyses of randomized controlled trials (RCT) of immunosuppressive drugs or corticosteroids (CS) in LN. OR and 95% credible intervals (CrI) were calculated.
  
  
  
  There were 65 RCT that met inclusion and exclusion criteria. Significantly lower risk of endstage renal disease (ESRD; 17 studies) was seen with cyclophosphamide (CYC; OR 0.49, 95% CrI 0.25-0.92) or CYC + azathioprine (AZA; OR 0.18, 95% CrI 0.05-0.57) compared with standard-dose CS, and with high-dose (HD) CYC (OR 0.16, 95% CrI 0.03-0.61) or CYC + AZA (OR 0.10, 95% CrI 0.03-0.34) compared with HD CS. HD CS was associated with higher risk of ESRD compared with CYC (OR 3.59, 95% CrI 1.30-9.86), AZA (OR 2.93, 95% CrI 1.08-8.10), or mycophenolate mofetil (MMF; OR 7.05, 95% CrI 1.66-31.91). Compared with CS, a significantly higher proportion of patients had renal response (14 studies) when treated with CYC (OR 1.98, 95% CrI 1.13-3.52), MMF (OR 2.42, 95% CrI 1.27-4.74), or tacrolimus (TAC; OR 4.20, 95% CrI 1.29-13.68). No differences were noted for the risk of malignancy (15 studies). The risk of herpes zoster (17 studies) was as follows: OR (95% CrI) MMF versus CS 4.38 (1.02-23.87), CYC versus CS 6.64 (1.97-25.71), TAC versus CS 9.11 (1.13-70.99), and CYC + AZA versus CS 8.46 (1.99-43.61).
  
  
  
  Renal benefits and the risk of herpes zoster were higher for immunosuppressive drugs versus CS. Data on relative and absolute differences are now available, which can be incorporated into patient-physician discussions related to systemic lupus erythematosus medication use.
authors: From the Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center; Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota; University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California; University of Oregon, Portland, Oregon, USA; Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.J.A. Singh, MBBS, MPH, Medicine Service, VA Medical Center, and Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine; A. Hossain, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Kotb, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Oliveira, PhD, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; A.S. Mudano, MPH, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; J. Grossman, MD, University of California at San Francisco; K. Winthrop, MD, MPH, University of Oregon; G.A. Wells, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa. Jasvinder.md@gmail.com.
authors: Jasvinder A
authors: JA
authors: Singh
authors: From the Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center; Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota; University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California; University of Oregon, Portland, Oregon, USA; Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.J.A. Singh, MBBS, MPH, Medicine Service, VA Medical Center, and Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine; A. Hossain, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Kotb, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Oliveira, PhD, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; A.S. Mudano, MPH, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; J. Grossman, MD, University of California at San Francisco; K. Winthrop, MD, MPH, University of Oregon; G.A. Wells, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa.
authors: Alomgir
authors: A
authors: Hossain
authors: From the Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center; Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota; University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California; University of Oregon, Portland, Oregon, USA; Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.J.A. Singh, MBBS, MPH, Medicine Service, VA Medical Center, and Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine; A. Hossain, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Kotb, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Oliveira, PhD, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; A.S. Mudano, MPH, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; J. Grossman, MD, University of California at San Francisco; K. Winthrop, MD, MPH, University of Oregon; G.A. Wells, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa.
authors: Ahmed
authors: A
authors: Kotb
authors: From the Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center; Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota; University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California; University of Oregon, Portland, Oregon, USA; Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.J.A. Singh, MBBS, MPH, Medicine Service, VA Medical Center, and Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine; A. Hossain, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Kotb, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Oliveira, PhD, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; A.S. Mudano, MPH, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; J. Grossman, MD, University of California at San Francisco; K. Winthrop, MD, MPH, University of Oregon; G.A. Wells, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa.
authors: Ana
authors: A
authors: Oliveira
authors: From the Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center; Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota; University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California; University of Oregon, Portland, Oregon, USA; Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.J.A. Singh, MBBS, MPH, Medicine Service, VA Medical Center, and Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine; A. Hossain, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Kotb, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Oliveira, PhD, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; A.S. Mudano, MPH, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; J. Grossman, MD, University of California at San Francisco; K. Winthrop, MD, MPH, University of Oregon; G.A. Wells, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa.
authors: Amy S
authors: AS
authors: Mudano
authors: From the Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center; Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota; University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California; University of Oregon, Portland, Oregon, USA; Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.J.A. Singh, MBBS, MPH, Medicine Service, VA Medical Center, and Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine; A. Hossain, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Kotb, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Oliveira, PhD, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; A.S. Mudano, MPH, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; J. Grossman, MD, University of California at San Francisco; K. Winthrop, MD, MPH, University of Oregon; G.A. Wells, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa.
authors: Jennifer
authors: J
authors: Grossman
authors: From the Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center; Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota; University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California; University of Oregon, Portland, Oregon, USA; Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.J.A. Singh, MBBS, MPH, Medicine Service, VA Medical Center, and Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine; A. Hossain, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Kotb, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Oliveira, PhD, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; A.S. Mudano, MPH, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; J. Grossman, MD, University of California at San Francisco; K. Winthrop, MD, MPH, University of Oregon; G.A. Wells, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa.
authors: Kevin
authors: K
authors: Winthrop
authors: From the Medicine Service, Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center; Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama; Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota; University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California; University of Oregon, Portland, Oregon, USA; Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.J.A. Singh, MBBS, MPH, Medicine Service, VA Medical Center, and Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham, and Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine; A. Hossain, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Kotb, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa; A. Oliveira, PhD, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; A.S. Mudano, MPH, Department of Medicine at the School of Medicine, and Division of Epidemiology at the School of Public Health, University of Alabama at Birmingham; J. Grossman, MD, University of California at San Francisco; K. Winthrop, MD, MPH, University of Oregon; G.A. Wells, PhD, Ottawa Heart Institute and the University of Ottawa.
authors: George A
authors: GA
authors: Wells
mesh_terms: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012074:Remission Induction; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D016559:Tacrolimus
keywords: LUPUS NEPHRITIS; METAANALYSIS; NETWORK METAANALYSIS; SYSTEMATIC REVIEW; TREATMENTS