BACKGROUND: Standard clinical and laboratory parameters have limited predictive values for discriminating between active lupus nephritis and chronic disease. The objective of this study was to examine the predictive utility of a second kidney biopsy in patients with lupus nephritis. METHODS: Patients with lupus nephritis were advised to have second kidney biopsies at the end of the maintenance phase of their therapies. Baseline and second renal biopsies were re-classified by pathologists blinded to the clinical data. The relationships between remission status and histological parameters were examined. RESULTS: Included in this study were 77 patients followed up for a median duration of 8.7 years (interquartile range, 5.3-10.1 years). Their renal survival rates were 93% for those in complete remission (CR), 69% for partial remission (PR) and 41% for no remission (NR). One-third of the patients with PR and 14% of patients with NR had no histological evidence of active disease on second biopsy. At the second biopsy, but not at the baseline biopsy, activity index was predictive of survival. The 10-year renal survival rate was 100% for those with an activity index of 0, 80% for those with an activity index of 1 or 2 on the second biopsy and 44% for those with an index of >2, regardless of remission status. CONCLUSION: Second kidney biopsy at the end of maintenance phase of therapy is an important diagnostic and prognostic tool that could guide physicians to safer practices with better outcomes.
BACKGROUND: Standard clinical and laboratory parameters have limited predictive values for discriminating between active lupus nephritis and chronic disease. The objective of this study was to examine the predictive utility of a second kidney biopsy in patients with lupus nephritis. METHODS:Patients with lupus nephritis were advised to have second kidney biopsies at the end of the maintenance phase of their therapies. Baseline and second renal biopsies were re-classified by pathologists blinded to the clinical data. The relationships between remission status and histological parameters were examined. RESULTS: Included in this study were 77 patients followed up for a median duration of 8.7 years (interquartile range, 5.3-10.1 years). Their renal survival rates were 93% for those in complete remission (CR), 69% for partial remission (PR) and 41% for no remission (NR). One-third of the patients with PR and 14% of patients with NR had no histological evidence of active disease on second biopsy. At the second biopsy, but not at the baseline biopsy, activity index was predictive of survival. The 10-year renal survival rate was 100% for those with an activity index of 0, 80% for those with an activity index of 1 or 2 on the second biopsy and 44% for those with an index of >2, regardless of remission status. CONCLUSION: Second kidney biopsy at the end of maintenance phase of therapy is an important diagnostic and prognostic tool that could guide physicians to safer practices with better outcomes.
Authors: Daniel J Birmingham; Michael Merchant; Sushrut S Waikar; Haikady Nagaraja; Jon B Klein; Brad H Rovin Journal: Nephrol Dial Transplant Date: 2017-01-01 Impact factor: 5.992
Authors: Abdulkareem Alsuwaida; Sufia Husain; Mohammed Al Ghonaim; Saad Alobaili; Jamal Alwakeel; Riyadh Al Sehli; Akram Askar; Ahmad Tarakji; Hala Kfoury Journal: Int J Clin Exp Pathol Date: 2015-05-01
Authors: G Greloni; M Scolnik; J Marin; E Lancioni; C Quiroz; J Zacariaz; P De la Iglesia Niveyro; S Christiansen; M A Pierangelo; C F Varela; G J Rosa-Diez; L J Catoggio; E R Soriano Journal: Lupus Sci Med Date: 2014-04-01
Authors: Samir V Parikh; Ana Malvar; Huijuan Song; Valeria Alberton; Bruno Lococo; Jay Vance; Jianying Zhang; Lianbo Yu; Brad H Rovin Journal: Lupus Sci Med Date: 2015-11-18