Prognostic significance of renal angiitis in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Analysis of 80 cases of SLE with renal involvement revealed the following. Angiitis involving arterioles and interlobular arteries was observed in 17 out of 42 cases with diffuse proliferative lupus GN. This was not observed in other types of lupus GN. Out of 17 cases of angiitis, 7 were complicated by thrombosis. Irregular deposits of immunoglobulins and complement were demonstrated in the vessel walls and in luminal thrombi and suggested an immune-complex origin. Fibrinogen was also demonstrable frequently. The vascular lesions were associated with severe glomerular and tubulointerstitial injury and a poor prognosis. A relatively favorable outcome was observed in SLE without renal angiitis.