Clinicopathological profile of renal changes in systemic lupus erythematosus

A study was done on 30 patients admitted in the department of medicine, RG Kar MCH to know the incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and among them whether there were any cases of renal involvement, time of onset of clinicopathological features of renal involvement and renal changes if already been started in them who had no renal problem clinically. The cases were selected on the basic of revised ARA criteria. Total clinical examination and biochemical tests were done followed by renal biopsy in 28 cases. In rest 2 case, renal biopsy could not be performed because one case presented with severe azotaemia and another case presented with end stage renal disease with severe pallor. There were 28 females and 2 males in the present study presenting chiefly with joint pain and fever. Although renal symptoms were not very common in their presentation, in the present study, some form of renal abnormality (either on urine analysis or histology) was found in 26 patient. Among renal involvement, type IV diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis was more common. Incidence and prevalence of SLE was more common in this part of the world. When worldwise incidence of SLE is considered, renal involvement was quite high (96%) in the present study, type IV diffuse proliferative lupus nephritis was commonest type and in severe form.