[Clinical outcome of lupus nephritis in Constanta County]

The epidemiology of chronic renal failure (CRF) and renal replacement therapy (RRT) is under continuous surveillance all over the world. In Constanja county, as well as in other Romanian regions, an increase in the prevalence of patients on RRT (dialysis or transplantation) has been observed during the recent years.

To determine the prevalence of chronic renal failure in Constanta county, in variable stages of evolution, as well as monitoring of renal replacement therapy in our region.

This epidemiological study is based on data collected from patients hospitalized in the 1st Clinical Department of Internal Medicine, or from other Department of the Emergency Hospital, regular periodic visits of predialytic patients in the Ambulatory Nephrology Cabinet and from the Hemodialysis Center of Constanţa, in the interval of time 1st January 2003-30 June 2005. A total group of 585 patients were evaluated till the end of our study. The study was based upon the available clinical and biochemical data, obtained during routine clinical care.

The disease affects more frequently the male gender and the young to middle-aged population. Because 56.88% of renal patients are in a predialytic phase, it is obvious that a large population group will need in the proximate future places for renal replacement therapy.

CRF has a high incidence in Constanţa county; the rate detected during our study was 82.1 cases per 100,000 population. Chronic glomerulonephritis and pyelonephritis, followed by diabetic nephropathy were the most frequently reported causes of renal failure. The most frequent comorbid associated conditions were cardiovascular diseases, followed by infections and bone diseases, in both predialytic and dialytic/transplanted population. Almost 10% of our patients died during the study. The most frequent causes of death were: cardiogenic shock, arrhythmias, cerebral strokes and sepsis.