Progressive renal failure in patients with lupus nephritis.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the mode of progression to renal failure in patients with lupus nephritis in relation to disease activity and responsiveness to corticosteroid therapy.

DESIGN

Retrospective clinical study.

SETTING

University hospital.

SUBJECTS: Twenty-eight patients with progressive lupus nephritis (Cr > or = 1.4 mg dl-1).

INTERVENTIONS: Rapidity of progression was defined as the slope of the reciprocal of serum creatinine values. Lupus activity was scored using the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index system.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Improvement of serum creatinine values after 6 months of therapy.

RESULTS

Rapidity of progression, which was calculated during the deterioration in kidney function, reflected systemic and serological disease activity, and moreover closely correlated with response to corticosteroid therapy.