RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Lupus nephritis is associated with an unfavorable outcome. Its incidence is higher in children. It has been the impression of pediatric nephrologists and rheumatologists in Puerto Rico that the clinical manifestations in Puerto Rican children differ from what has been described in other geographic regions. The potential deleterious effects of sun exposure could suggest that Puerto Rican children living in the Island are at high risk for severe nephritis. PURPOSE/METHOD: To describe the manifestations and identify predictors of patient and renal survival, we reviewed the medical charts of children diagnosed with lupus nephritis in Puerto Rico between 1987-2001. RESULTS: Mesangial glomerulonephritis (Type II) was the most common histopathological lesion observed. We observed a high incidence of nephritis among males, with a male: female ratio of 1:1.9. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of type IV nephritis and need for acute dialysis at presentation were identified as predictors of poor clinical outcome (development of end stage renal disease or death).