Correlation between the clinical remission and histological remission in repeat biopsy findings of quiescent proliferative lupus nephritis

Lupus ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 096120332199525
Author(s):  
Uttara Das ◽  
Ravi Patel ◽  
Swarnalatha Guditi ◽  
Gangadhar Taduri

Background The optimal duration of maintenance therapy is controversial in proliferative lupus nephritis (LN). Discordance between clinical parameters of renal remission and histological findings has made repeat biopsy a compulsory tool to confirm the histological remission (HR), but the timing is debatable. Aim of this study was to find the correlation of sustained complete clinical remission (CR) in sever lupus nephritis with histological findings on repeat kidney biopsy and appropriate duration of treatment in maintenance phase after achieving complete clinical remission. Methods Repeated kidney biopsy (biopsy 2) was performed on patients of biopsy proven (biopsy 1) proliferative LN who had been in CR for at least 2-years. The clinical and histologic findings of these groups (biopsy 1 and biopsy 2) were compared. Total 29 patients were included for the final analysis. Group 2 was further divided as per the duration of sustained CR (>48 months & <48 months). Regression analysis were used to find predictors of the HR. Results Average time taken to achieve CR was 9(range 2–24) months. Average duration of follow up and maintenance therapy was 68 ± 17.8 and 62.5 ± 14.2 months respectively. In the repeat kidney biopsy, HR was observed in 93.1% patients. Immunofluorescence study (IF) was normal in 72% of the patients. Normal light microscopy (LM) findings were observed in 58% patients. Transformation from proliferative to nonproliferative LN was noted in 82% cases. Other than the duration of CR on maintenance therapy and blood pressure, rest of the variables failed to predict HR. In sustained remission for more than 48-months group, 100% patients achieved HR whereas only 84% in 24–48-months group. Conclusion Sustained CR on maintenance immunosuppressive therapy for more than 48-months duration predicts HR in repeat kidney biopsy findings in quiescent proliferative LN. Hence the minimum duration of maintenance therapy in proliferative LN should be at least for another 48 months after achieving CR.

2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 526-531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Farah Tamirou ◽  
David D'Cruz ◽  
Shirish Sangle ◽  
Philippe Remy ◽  
Carlos Vasconcelos ◽  
...  

ObjectiveTo report the 10-year follow-up of the MAINTAIN Nephritis Trial comparing azathioprine (AZA) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as maintenance therapy of proliferative lupus nephritis, and to test different definitions of early response as predictors of long-term renal outcome.MethodsIn 2014, data on survival, kidney function, 24 h proteinuria, renal flares and other outcomes were collected for the 105 patients randomised between 2002 and 2006, except in 13 lost to follow-up.ResultsDeath (2 and 3 in the AZA and MMF groups, respectively) and end-stage renal disease (1 and 3, respectively) were rare events. Time to renal flare (22 and 19 flares in AZA and MMF groups, respectively) did not differ between AZA and MMF patients. Patients with good long-term renal outcome had a much more stringent early decrease of 24 h proteinuria compared with patients with poor outcome. The positive predictive value of a 24 h proteinuria <0.5 g/day at 3 months, 6 months and 12 months for a good long-term renal outcome was excellent (between 89% and 92%). Inclusion of renal function and urinalysis in the early response criteria did not impact the value of early proteinuria decrease as long-term prognostic marker.ConclusionsThe long-term follow-up data of the MAINTAIN Nephritis Trial do not indicate that MMF is superior to AZA as maintenance therapy in a Caucasian population suffering from proliferative lupus nephritis. Moreover, we confirm the excellent positive predictive value of an early proteinuria decrease for long-term renal outcome.Trial registration numberNCT00204022.


2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (8) ◽  
pp. 1338-1344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Malvar ◽  
Paola Pirruccio ◽  
Valeria Alberton ◽  
Bruno Lococo ◽  
Cecilia Recalde ◽  
...  

Lupus ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-34
Author(s):  
Enrique Morales ◽  
Hernando Trujillo ◽  
Teresa Bada ◽  
Marina Alonso ◽  
Eduardo Gutiérrez ◽  
...  

Introduction Recent studies with protocol biopsies have shown a mismatch between clinical and histological remission in lupus nephritis (LN). We aimed to evaluate histological changes in repeat kidney biopsies by clinical indication in patients with LN. Methods We analyzed 107 patients with LN in which a kidney biopsy was performed between 2008 and 2018. Of those, we included 26 (24.2%) who had ≥2 kidney biopsies. Classification was done according to the International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society. Results Mean time between biopsies was 71.5 ± 10.7 months. 73.1% of patients presented a change of class at repeat biopsy; 38.4% to a higher class and 34.6% to a lower class. A significant increase in glomerulosclerosis (% GS) (3.8% vs 18.7%, p = 0.006), interstitial fibrosis (3.8% vs 26.9%, p = 0.021), tubular atrophy (15.4% vs 57.7%, p = 0.001) and chronicity index (CI) (1 vs 3, p < 0.001) was observed at repeat biopsy. Subjects who developed chronic kidney disease progression had a lower rate of complete remission at 12 months (0% vs 37.5%, p = 0.02), higher % GS at first biopsy (7.9% vs 1.2%, p = 0.02) and higher CI (4 vs 2, p = 0.006), tubular atrophy (90% vs 37.6%, p = 0.008), interstitial fibrosis (50% vs 12.5%, p = 0.036) and vascular lesions (60% vs 18.8%, p = 0.031) at second biopsy. Conclusions Our major finding was that patients with LN showed a significant increase in % GS, interstitial fibrosis, tubular atrophy and vascular lesions in repeat biopsies performed by clinical indication. This suggest that a second kidney biopsy may provide valuable and useful information regarding kidney disease progression.


2016 ◽  
Vol 88 (8) ◽  
pp. 46-52 ◽  
Author(s):  
O V Knyazev ◽  
A I Parfenov ◽  
A V Kagramanova ◽  
I N Ruchkina ◽  
P L Shcherbakov ◽  
...  

Aim. To retrospectively evaluate the efficiency of long-term infliximab (INF) therapy in patients with refractory ulcerative colitis (UC). Subjects and methods. The investigation enrolled 48 patients with refractory UC who had taken IFL in 2008 to 2014. Steroid-dependent or steroid-refractory UC was established in 40 (83.3%) patients; 8 (16.7%) were noted to be refractory to therapy with azathioprine or 6-mercaptopurine. Cytomegalovirus DNA was identified in the biopsy specimens of the large intestinal mucosa (LIM) from 7 patients. One patient received antiviral therapy. Induction therapy with IFL was in its administration in a dose of 5 mg/kg at 0, 2, and 6 weeks, then maintenance therapy was continued every 8 weeks. Results. After an IFL induction cycle, 3 (6.3%) patients were unresponsive to therapy and were excluded from the investigation. At present, 25 (55.5%) of the 45 patients who have responded to the therapy continue to take IFL 5 mg/kg every 8 weeks and are in clinical remission; 4 (8.8%) patients receive intensified IFL therapy. Initially 23 patients received combined therapy with IFL + an immunosuppressive drug; 22 had IFL monotherapy. Escape from the effect of the performed therapy was observed in 5 (11.1%) patients, which required its intensification. The intensified therapy resulted in sustained remission in 4 (8.8%) patients; colectomy was carried out in one (2.2%) case. Secondary loss of response to IFL, its intolerance, development of severe infectious complications, which did not allow for further maintenance therapy with IFL, were seen in 11 (24.4%) patients; 5 (11.1%) stopped the therapy because they had been excluded from the additional drug subsidy list. Maintenance therapy with IFL proved successful during 64 months in 29 (64.4%) of the 45 patients and during 64 months if its intensity, when the occasion required, was enhanced. Conclusion. The long-term use of IFL in UC confirmed its high efficacy in achieving clinical response, in inducing a clinical remission and its capacity to heal LIM, and in sustaining remission.


2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (Supplement_3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Beatriz Sanchez Alamo ◽  
Clara Maria Cases Corona ◽  
Serena Gatius ◽  
Patricia Dominguez Torres ◽  
Elena Valdes ◽  
...  

Abstract Background and Aims Proliferative lupus nephritis (class III and IV) is the most severe form of lupus nephritis and requires prompt diagnosis and treatment with immunosuppressive therapy. Since it represents the most serious entity and has the greatest functional consequences there is a need to determine which factors in proliferative lupus nephritis are most predictive of good long-term renal function. Method Methods We analysed the data of 49 biopsy-proven proliferative lupus nephritis (18,4% class III and 81,6% class IV) of three different Spanish hospitals to find prognostic factors for complete renal response (CRR), defined as loss of &lt;25% of eGFR and the absence of proteinuria and microhematuria at the end of the follow up. Sociodemographic, clinical, laboratory, and treatment-related data at the time of kidney biopsy and during follow-up were obtained. We performed univariate analysis and logistic regression to identify independent risk factors. Results The median follow-up was 8 years (IQR: 3-12,5), during which time 18 patients (36,7 %) achieved CRR. In the univariate analysis complete renal response was related to: (1) at the diagnosis to: age [40,52 (11,29) years vs 29,92 (11,93) p=0,004]; (2) in kidney biopsy to less leukocyte infiltration (42,3% p=0,05); (3) during the follow up to: less comorbities (27,8% vs 64,3% p=0,02), less infections (27,8% vs 58,6% p=0,04) and less hospitalizations due to infections (0% vs 33,3% p=0,010), less prevalence of high BP (22,2% vs 60,7% p=0,01), (4) at the end of follow up to : serum albumin [3,97 (0,59) vs 4,31(0,19) mg/dL p=0,03]. In the logistic regression comorbidies (HR : 5,71 95%IC: 1,56-20,93 p=0,008) and age at the moment of diagnosis (HR : 1,046 95%IC:1,001-1,071 p=0,04) were related to complete renal response. We didn´t find any differences concerning treatments. Conclusion Proliferative lupus nephritis is one of the most severe manifestations of lupus nephritis, resulting in increased morbidity and mortality. Traditionally it has been thought that older patients have a worst prognosis, however we demonstrated that they achieved more frequently CRR. In the management of the patients traditional reno protective measures like strict control of BP must be considered since it is a predictive factor of CRR. We shouldn´t forget about the implications of an aggressive immunosuppressive treatment such as hospitalizations due to infections and comorbities.


Author(s):  
Gabriella Moroni ◽  
Giulia Frontini ◽  
Claudio Ponticelli

Glucocorticoids and other immunosuppressants still represent the cornerstone drugs for the management of SLE (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus) and lupus nephritis. The refined use of these drugs over the years has allowed to obtain stable disease remission and improvement of the long-term kidney and patient survival. Nevertheless, a prolonged use of immunosuppressive agents may be accompanied by severe and even life-threatening side effects. Theoretically, a transient or even definitive withdrawal of immunosuppression could be useful to prevent iatrogenic morbidities. For many years, however, the risk of SLE reactivation has held clinicians back from trying to interrupt therapy. In this review we report the results of the attempts to interrupt glucocorticoids and other immunosuppressive agents in lupus nephritis and in SLE. The available data suggest that the therapy withdrawal is feasible at least in patients enjoying a complete clinical remission after a prolonged therapy. A slow and gradual reduction of treatment under medical surveillance is needed to prevent flares of activity. After therapy withdrawal around one quarter of patients may have kidney or systemic flares. However, most flares may respond to therapy if rapidly diagnosed. The other patients can enter stable remission even for 20 years or more. The use of antimalarials can help in maintaining the remission after the withdrawal of the immunosuppressive therapy. A repeated kidney biopsy could be of help in deciding to stop therapy, but given the few available data, it cannot be considered essential.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kavitha Vellanki ◽  
Susan Hou

Pregnancy-induced changes in renal hemodynamics play an important role in favorable maternal and fetal outcomes. Renal plasma flow and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) increase by approximately 50% in normal pregnancy, leading to a decrease in both blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine when compared with prepregnancy levels. Hence, serum creatinine–based formulas are not accurate in calculating estimated GFR in pregnant patients. The most compelling risk for pregnant women with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease is the risk of rapid progression of underlying kidney disease; the mechanisms for such decline are yet to be elucidated. The rule of kidney disease not progressing when serum creatinine is less than 1.4 mg/dL does not apply to women with lupus nephritis. New-onset lupus is an indication for kidney biopsy during pregnancy because diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis requires prompt treatment and first-line treatments are teratogenic. Infertility is common in women on dialysis and is usually reversed after successful kidney transplantation. Pregnancy outcomes have improved over the years with increasing intensity of hemodialysis in end-stage kidney disease patients. Pregnancy post–kidney transplantation should be planned and teratogenic medications discontinued before conception. Key words: glomerular filtration rate, proliferative lupus nephritis, serum creatinine, pregnancy post–kidney transplantation, end-stage kidney disease, infertility, kidney biopsy


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