Long term complete remission of severe nephrotic syndrome secondary to diffuse global (IV-G) lupus nephritis following autologous, haematopoietic peripheral stem (CD34+) cell transplantation.

Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation has become an accepted powerful therapeutic procedure for patients with severe, intractable SLE. Here we describe a 26-year old patient with stage IV-G diffuse global proliferative lupus nephritis and refractory nephrotic syndrome who responded to autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation (ASCT) after two mobilization procedures. Five years later the patient is in complete clinical and immunologic remission. The indications for ASCT and its mechanism of action are briefly discussed.