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lupus nephritis |
There is a wide range of tests that can determine how the kidney is affected.
Blood: BUN (normally<20) and creatinine (Cr; normally <1 in average woman; it may be higher in muscular men as it reflects muscle mass). Also albumin (normal>3.5) which may be decreased due to loss of protein in the urine.
Electrolytes: sodium, potassium, bicarbonate
Creatinine clearance: Calculated by using creatinine, age, race, gender. Normally 80-120 ml/min/1.73m2
Urine analysis: Normally 0-trace protein, no red and white blood cells (<5 RBC, <5 WBC)
24-h urine protein: (creatinine is also measured to assess whether collection was performed properly): normally <300mg/24h. In lupus by definition>500 mg/24h.
Spot urine protein/creatinine ratio: Normally <300 mg/24h. It may vary depending on the timing of collection: best to test second urine of the day
Renal ultrasound: size of kidneys and consistency of kidney tissue
Kidney biopsy
Other Important Tests:
1. Serology:
C3 (normally>80), when disease is active, it is usually low
C4 (normally>18), when disease is active, it is usually low
Anti-dsDNA (normal is 0), when disease is active, it is usually high
Antiphospolipid antibodies (anticardiolipin antibodies IgG, IgM, IgA, and lupus anticoagulant). This might determine whether blood thinners are needed
2. Bone tests:
Blood level of 25-OH-Vitamin D (normal >30 ng/ml)
Blood level of intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH; it is usually high in advanced kidney disease or with low 25-OH-Vitamin D levels)
Bone mineral density test (to check for osteoporosis)
3. Fasting lipids: High in nephrotic syndrome
4. Fasting blood sugar: Diabetes or other complications of steroids
5. Hemoglobin (HB): Anemia might be due to the inflammation, blood loss, hemolysis, or advanced kidney disease.
6. White blood cells: Low due to the disease or therapy. Increased risk of infection.
7. Platelets (PLT): Low due to the disease or therapy. Increased risk of bleeding.
8. Purified protein derivative (PPD) test for latent tuberculosis (TB)
9. Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B, HIV
OUTCOME INDICATORS OF CLINICAL TRIALS IN LUPUS NEPHRITIS
The incidence of renal failure associated with different treatments, as indicated by doubling of baseline serum creatinine level and/or end-stage renal failure, is commonly used as the principal end point of studies. In accordance with the progressive nature of renal function deterioration, it has been shown that prolonged follow-up exceeding 5 years is required to discern different treatment outcomes4. While these end points have obvious clinical relevance, it is imperative to note that the ultimate renal outcome is also under the influence of factors other than immunosuppressive efficacy. These modulating factors include the extent of irreversible renal parenchymal damage before and after induction therapy, blood pressure control, and the number and severity of subsequent nephritic relapses, which also relate to the efficacy of maintenance immunosuppression. Therefore, while long-term renal survival is the ultimate aim of clinical management, it is actually a composite end point subject to the influence of multiple confounding factors.
Prompt induction of remission is the major short-term objective of immunosuppressive treatment in severe lupus nephritis. The definition of remission varies between investigators, and commonly adopted criteria include a significant reduction of proteinuria, reversal of renal failure or preservation of baseline renal function, and improvement of serologic parameters such as the titre of anti-DNA antibodies and complement components. It should be noted, however, that the lack of improvements in proteinuria or renal function after treatment may be due to delayed treatment and irreversible scarring rather than inadequate immunosuppressive potency. The efficacy of immunosuppressive treatment per se is evident from abatement of serologic activity, which usually precedes end-organ manifestations. Immunologic remission is prerequisite to interruption of the damaging inflammatory processes. Prompt induction of remission is, thus, essential to the preservation of a critical renal mass, and the prevention of progressive renal failure2.
Therapy of Lupus Nephritis
In proliferative lupus nephritis (severe class III or class IV), aggressive immunosuppressive therapy is required without delay to “calm down” the overactive immune system. This is called induction therapy, as it aims to induce remission. There are many types of induction therapy, but typically all require a high dose of glucocorticoids (such as Medrol or Prednisone) plus one of the following:
Chemotherapy (IV cyclophosphamide every month for six months)
Oral Cellcept (mycophenolic acid)
After about six months of induction therapy and hopefully a good response or remission of the disease, we apply maintenance of remission therapy to maintain remission and avoid a new flare of the nephritis. In this case we typically use only a low dose of glucocorticoids, or none at all, plus one of the following options:
Oral Cellcept (mycophenolic acid)
Oral Imuran (azathioprine)
For both induction and maintenance therapies, patients may consider enrolling in clinical trials of new promising therapeutic agents. This is a consideration since available conventional therapies at present are not optimal with regard to either efficacy or safety.
If you want to know more informations about lupus nephritis, you can email us. Our email: sjzkidneyhospital@hotmail.com