Lupus Nephritis - New Guidelines Issued

Lupus nephritis is a kidney disorder caused by a complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Unlike previous guidelines, the new ACR guidelines are specific to lupus nephritis and include newer treatments, techniques for detecting renal disease, as well as treatment of pregnant SLE patients with kidney involvement.

The guidelines are published in Arthritis Care & Research.

SLE is a long-term autoimmune disorder that causes organ damage, joint pain, inflammation and fatigue. According to estimates up to 322,000 individuals in the United States are diagnosed with the disorder. One of the most serious complications of SLE is lupus nephritis. Lupus nephritis is an inflammation of the kidney which can lead to renal failure.

Evidence indicates that 35% of adult Americans have evidence of lupus nephritis at the time of SLE diagnosis, and that 60% of patients with SLE develop nephritis during the first decade after SLE diagnosis.

According to earlier studies, the survival rate for individuals with lupus nephritis after 10 years of SLE diagnosis is reduced to 88%, and that survival rate for African Americans is even lower.

Dr. Bevra Hahn, one of the lead guideline contributors and Professor of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), said:

"Lupus nephritis can be life-threatening, and proper management of the disease is vital to prevent permanent organ damage and preserve quality of life for patients.

Given the serious threat of kidney involvement in SLE and the availability of newer therapies, it was necessary to create specific guidelines for managing the care of patients with lupus nephritis."

In order to establish the guidelines, three panels of researchers reviewed medical literature from 1966 through 2010 for all evidence relevant to "lupus kidney disease."

Lupus Nephritis Lupus nephritis is inflammation of the kidney that is caused by systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). Also called lupus, SLE is an autoimmune disease. With lupus, the body's immune system targets its own body tissues. Lupus nephritis happens when lupus involves the kidneys.

An estimated one-third to one-half of lupus patients develop lupus nephritis within the first six months to three years of their lupus diagnosis. When the kidneys are inflamed, they can't function normally and can leak protein. If not controlled, lupus nephritis can lead to kidney failure.

Recommendations in the guidelines include:

- Adjunctive treatment (background therapy with hydroxychloroquine, ACE inhibitors, control of blood pressure to goal of 130/80 or lower for almost all SLE patients with nephritis)
- Recommending renal biopsy for previously untreated patients with active nephritis