Nephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus in children.

Twenty-five patients, aged six to 18 years, with lupus nephritis, followed for two to 103 months (median 22 months), have been classified according to renal histology into groups with diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis (18), focal proliferative nephritis (2), and membranous nephropathy (5). Correlations have been made among specific histologic groups, clinical findings, renal function studies, urinary findings, and response to therapy. In sequential renal biopsies, lesions progressed in most patients with diffuse proliferative and membranous changes; however, chronic renal failure occurred in only one patient and the five-year survival rate (60.9%) is better than previously reported in pediatric patients.