PURPOSE: To evaluate and the long term course of patients with lupus nephritis, METHOD: Thirty seven patients with lupus nephritis followed in a referral, tertiary care center of a developing country (Brazil) were studied. The length of follow up was 52.4 + 13.3 months and mean age was 26.05 +11.12 years. 84% of the patients were females and class IV nephritis was found to be the most frequent (80%). RESULTS: At the time of renal biopsy mean serum creatinine was 1.74 + 1.15 mg/dl, and 24h-proteinuria was 2.62 + 2.89 g. Fifty one per cent of the patients with elevated serum creatinine showed a decrease in these values. Of the variables studied (age, sex, proteinuria, presence of hypertension and serum creatinine at biopsy), serum creatinine elevation was the only one to be associated with poorer prognosis. Remission of the nephrotic syndrome occurred in 65% of the patients. Actuarial survival rate was 96% at 1 year, 82% at 5 years, 70% at 10 years and 70% at 12 years. Five patients developed end stage renal failure and 7 died. Infection was the most frequent(57%) cause of death. CONCLUSION: Among several factors studied the only which has been associated with chronic renal failure was elevated serum creatinine at the time of biopsy. Infections were the main cause of death.
Systemic lupus erythematosus; Lupus nephritis; Nephrotic syndrome; Renal failure
