Abstract Background: Lupus nephritis (LN) is a major source of morbidity and mortality in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with 10–25% of patients progressing to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Objective: This study aims to elucidate the predictive capabilities of 24-h proteinuria (24PTU) and serum creatinine (sCr) after 12 months of treatment with respect to long-term renal outcomes in LN in a single-center cohort of LN patients. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 214 patients diagnosed with LN followed in our center. Values of 24PTU and sCr were assessed at baseline and after 3, 6 and 12 months, and after 5 years and/or the last evaluation. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) was defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) < 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for 3 months or longer. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) was defined as the need for permanent dialysis. Receiver operating characteristics curves (ROC) were used to test the best cut-off value of 24PTU and sCr at 12 months who predict bad long-term renal outcomes. Results: The mean follow-up period was 11.2 ± 7.2 years. The best cut-off values for 24PTU and sCr as predictor of CKD were, respectively, 0.9 g/24 h and 0.9 mg/dL. ROC curve for 24PTU had a slightly lower performance than ROC curve for sCr as predictor for CKD (PTU AUC = 0.68; sCr AUC = 0.70), but sensitivity and specificity were better for 24PTU (24PTU: sensitivity = 63.5%, specificity = 71.2%; sCr: sensitivity = 54.8%, specificity = 75.3%). When the outcome was ESRD the best cut-off points were 0.9 g/24hs and 1.3 mg/dL for 24PTU and sCr, respectively, and the curve performance was better for 24PTU (PTU AUC = 0.72; sCr AUC = 0.61). Conclusions: In this ethnically diverse population with LN followed for a long time (> 10 years), levels of 24PTU > 0.9/day at 12 months was a good predictor of bad long-term renal outcome. The serum creatinine > 0.9 mg/dL and > 1.3 mg/dL at 12 months were also good predictors of CKD and ESRD, respectively. Patients with 24PTU < 0.9 g/day and sCr < 1.3 mg/dL at 12 months are not likely to develop ESRD because of the high negative predictive values (NPV) (93.2% and 82%). 24PTU and sCr are relevant as components for a treat-to-target strategy for LN treatment, since their high NPV corroborates their importance as good predictors of long-term renal outcome.

Os autores relatam o caso de um paciente do sexo masculino, 71 anos de idade, com diagnóstico de doença de Paget óssea sacral. Foi realizado estudo com radiografia, cintilografia, tomografia computadorizada e ressonância magnética, e o diagnóstico foi confirmado por análise histopatológica. O paciente evoluiu com boa resposta ao uso de ibandronato 150 mg, mensalmente, com redução significativa dos marcadores bioquímicos da doença.

The authors report a case of a 71-year-old male patient diagnosed with Paget's disease of sacrum. Imaging study was performed with radiography, scintigraphy, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, and the diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy. The patient progressed with a good response to monthly treatment with ibandronate 150 mg, presenting a significant reduction in biochemical markers of disease.

OBJETIVOS: analisar características clínico-laboratoriais dos pacientes com nefrite lúpica que se submeteram à biópsia renal em um hospital universitário; correlacionar manifestações clínicolaboratoriais com os principais tipos de nefrite lúpica; determinar fatores associados ao desenvolvimento de insuficiência renal crônica (IRC). MÉTODOS: dados demográficos, clínicos, laboratoriais e histológicos de todos pacientes com diagnóstico de nefrite lúpica que realizaram biópsia renal no período de janeiro de 1997 a julho de 2002 foram avaliados retrospectivamente. RESULTADOS: Setenta e sete pacientes com nefrite lúpica realizaram 95 bióspias. Considerando apenas 76 amostras com resultados conclusivos, a glomerulonefrite (GMN) proliferativa difusa foi o tipo histológico mais prevalente (68,4%), seguido pela proliferativa focal (14,5%) e mesangial (7,9%). Hipertensão arterial, creatinina > 1,2g/dL, hipoalbuminemia (albumina < 2,6 g/dL) e síndrome nefrótica estiveram presentes por ocasião da primeira biópsia em, respectivamente, 43,8%, 48,7%, 55,2% e 15,6%. A GMN proliferativa difusa esteve mais associada com creatinina elevada (p = 0,002), hipoalbuminemia (p = 0,012), sedimento urinário ativo (p = 0,007), edema de membros inferiores (p = 0,01), hematúria (p = 0,003) e maior índice de atividade (0,0001). A forma mesangial foi a que mais evoluiu para remissão (66,7%), quando comparada com a forma proliferativa focal (12,5%) e difusa (12,8%) (p = 0,02). O tempo de seguimento médio dos pacientes foi de 29,3 ± 20,7 meses (mediana = 24,5 meses). Trinta por cento dos pacientes evoluíram para IRC. Creatinina elevada (OR = 11; IC 95%: 2,16-55,9), plaquetopenia (OR = 6,8; IC 95%: 1,43-32,19), hipoalbuminemia (OR = 6,42; IC 95%: 1,21-33,97) e índice de cronicidade = 2 (OR = 6,36; IC 95%: 1,02-39,57) foram associados com IRC. CONCLUSÕES: dados clínicos e histológicos são importantes para se avaliar o prognóstico dos pacientes com nefrite lúpica. Creatinina elevada, hipoalbuminemia, plaquetopenia e índice de cronicidade = 2 são fatores associados com evolução para IRC.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the laboratory and clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with lupus nephritis and submitted to renal biopsy at a university hospital; to correlate laboratory and clinical manifestations with the main types of lupus nephritis; to determinate factors associated with the development of chronic renal failure (CRF). METHODS: Retrospective evaluation of the demographic, clinical, laboratory and histological data of patients diagnosed with lupus nephritis and submitted to renal biopsy from January/1997 to July/2002. RESULTS:Seventy-seven patients with lupus nephritis were submitted to 95 renal biopsies. Considering only the samples with conclusive results (n=76), diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis (DPGN) was the most prevalent histological type (68.4%), followed by the focal (14.5%) and mesangial (7.9%) types. Arterial hypertension, creatinine > 1.2 g/dL, hypoalbuminemia (albumin < 2.6 g/dL) and nephrotic syndrome were present on the first biopsy in 43.8%, 48.7%, 55.2% and 15.6% of the patients, respectively. DPGN was frequently associated with high creatinine levels (p = 0,002), hypoalbuminemia (p = 0,012), active urinary sediment (0,007), edema of the lower limbs (p = 0,01), hematuria (p = 0,003) and higher activity index (p = 0,0001). The mesangial form achieved remission more frequently (66.7%) when compared to focal (12.5%) and diffuse (12.8%) forms (p = 0,02). The average follow-up period was 29.3 ± 20.7 months (median = 24.5 months). 30% of the patients developed CRF. High creatinine levels (OR = 11; IC 95%: 2,16-55,9), thrombocytopenia (OR = 6,8; IC 95%: 1,43-32,19), hypoalbuminemia (OR= 6,42; IC 95%: 1,21-33,97) and a chronicity index = 2 (OR = 6,36; IC 95%: 1,02-39,57) were associated with CRF. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical and histological data are important when evaluating the prognosis of patients with lupus nephritis. High creatinine levels, thrombocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia and a chronicity index = 2 were found to be associated with progression to CRF.