Predictive value of remission status after 6 months induction therapy in patients with proliferative lupus nephritis: a retrospective analysis

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether remission status after completion of induction therapy can be used to predict long-term renal outcomes, including renal relapse and chronic renal failure (CRF) in patients with proliferative lupus nephritis (LN). Of 201 patients with biopsy proven LN between 1998 and 2008, 117 were reviewed. Fifty nine (50.4%), 33 (28.2%), and 25 (21.4%) were assigned to the complete remission (CR), partial remission (PR), and non-remission (NR) groups, respectively. The 24-h urinary protein level was significantly lower in the CR than in the PR and NR groups. Induction therapy after the first detection of nephritis signs was initiated earlier in the CR than in the PR and NR groups. During follow-up, 36 (39.1%) patients suffered relapse. Multivariate analysis showed that longer latency period and a lack of CR were independent predictors of renal relapse. Seventeen (14.5%) patients experienced CRF. Multivariate analysis showed that higher baseline creatinine concentration and a lack of CR after induction therapy were independent predictors of CRF. We found that renal outcomes were related to remission status after 6 months induction therapy in patients with proliferative LN. Further, poor outcomes were associated with delayed intervention and higher creatinine concentration.