CLINICO-PATHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF LUPUS NEPHRITIS IN EASTERN ZONE OF INDIA: A SINGLE TERTIARY CENTER EXPERIENCE

Abstract

ABSTRACTObjective: Lupus nephritis (LN) is the most common and serious manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and an important cause ofmorbidity and mortality. Although diagnosis of LN is straight forward in a patient with SLE and proteinuria, and active urine sediment and perhapsrenal insufficiency, still renal biopsies are required at diagnosis to enable classification of nephritis severity, to provide prognostic information, and toguide treatment. Hence, the objective of this study is to determine the frequency of distribution of different classes of LN based on renal biopsy reportsand to correlate it with various laboratory findings.Methods: Retrospective study was done in all patients with LN who had at least one representative renal biopsy and evaluated in NephrologyDepartment of SCB Medical College, Cuttack, in 6-month duration. Various laboratory values were recorded and correlated with histopathologicallupus classifications.Results: Out of 35 patients enrolled, 33 (94.28%) were females and 2 (5.71%) were males. Mean age was 27.53±12.26 years. Majority of cases belongto Class IV followed by Class V. Patients of Class IV LN have a significantly low hemoglobin level. Similarly, serum urea and creatinine are higher inGroup IV than other groups, and serum creatinine was found to be significant. 24 hrs urinary protein excretion has a significant correlation with theclasses of LN.Conclusion: This study suggests some meaningful correlation between laboratory findings and histopathological lupus classification. This study alsosuggests that renal biopsies are still beneficial for better evaluation of renal status and determination of LN classes.Keywords: Clinico-pathological correlation, Lupus nephritis, Biopsy.