SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS (SLE)-RENAL

SUMMARY

1. Glomerulonephritis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in SLE patients.

2. The presence of anti-dsDNA is associated with glomerulonephritis and the nephrotic syndrome.

3. Proteinuria (usually > 500 mg/day or nephrotic > 3.5 g) and microscopic hematuria & a high titer of anti-dsDNA.

4. The International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the Renal Pathology Society (RPS) have classified SLE renal disease into 6 classes (I-VI).

5. Treat class III and IV disease with cytotoxics and corticosteroids to prevent end-stage kidney disease, which develops within 2 years in untreated patients.

Reference(s)

Wilkinson, I., Furmedge, D. and Sinharay, R. (2017). Oxford handbook of clinical medicine. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Get it on Amazon.
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Hannaman, R. A., Bullock, L., Hatchell, C. A., & Yoffe, M. (2016). Internal medicine review core curriculum, 2017-2018. CO Springs, CO: MedStudy.
Therapeutic Guidelines. Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited. https://www.tg.org.au [Accessed 2021].