A clinico-pathological study on progress factors in lupus nephritis.

ABSTRACT

The prognosis of lupus nephritis was investigated in 147 patients who underwent renal biopsy, in an attempt to elucidate the progress factors of this disease clinico-pathologically. Twenty-two patients received a follow-up biopsy and were observed for time-related histopathological changes. At the first examination, only the serum creatinine and mean blood pressure were correlated with prognosis. The anti-DNA antibody and serum complement titer measured at the same time did not correlate with prognosis, and neither showed a significant improvement in the poor prognosis group. Profuse proteinuria tended to last longer in the poor prognosis group. The renal biopsy findings were found to correlate with prognosis. The prognosis was especially poor in patients exhibiting marked mesangial cell proliferation, glomerulosclerosis and interstitial lesions.