Clinical characteristics and outcomes of 7 patients with lupus podocytopathies / 中华风湿病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the clinical, treatment responses and outcomes of SLE patients with lupus podocytopathy (LP).Methods:Seven hospitalized cases in Wuxi people's hospital were diagnosed with LP based on the renal biopsy study during January 2011 to May 2019. Their clinical, immunological and pathological features, treatment responses and prognosis were analyzed.Results:Six cases were women. The mean onset age was (33±12), and the mean duration of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) was (69±64) months. Among these patients, 3 cases were initially diagnosed of SLE, and 6 with kidney damage caused by SLE. Six cases presented as nephrotic syndrome (NS) in which 2 cases were complicated with acute kidney injury(AKI). The extrarenal manifestations were not parallel to the renal manifestations as the positive rate of autoantibody and the incidence of hypocomplementemia were both low. After treatments with glucocorticoids and immunosuppressants, renal disease of 6 cases was improved. During follow-up, 2 cases developed renal disease recurrence.Conclusion:LP tends to occur in women in reproductive age, and NS or AKI is the main clinical manifestations. Renal manifestations are not parallel to extra-renal manifestations. Glucocorticoids and immunosuppressive therapy is sensitive, and some patients may relapse after treatment.