[Lupus nephritis in children and adolescents (Part II: Prognosis)]

In 27 children and adolescents (24 females, 3 males suffering from lupus nephritis the important role of renal pathohistologic changes in the evolution and outcome of the disease was analysed, and a five-year survival rate was calculated. The mean age at the onset of the disease was 12.1 +/- 1.9 (range: 0.7-0) years, the mean interval from onset to renal biopsy was 2.1 +/- 1.9 (0.1 - 7.0) years, ant the mean follow-up was 4.1 +/- 2.1 (1-8) years. The pathohistologic changes were classified according to the World Health Organisation criteria. At the end of the follow-up patients classified in Ib and II classes were without urinary abnormalities, i.e. without preoteinuria and/or haematuria. However, patients in class IV manifests nephrotic syndrome (2 pts), renal failure (3 pts) or proteinuria and heamaturia (6 pts), and two patients died. More severe clinical features and course of lupus nephiritis associated with infavourable outcome significantly correlated with WHO classes III and IV. A five-year survival rate (life-table method) of 88.5% is among the best results reported to date in children and adolescents with lupus nephritis.