[Nephropathy associated with systemic lupus erythematosus]

The investigation of needle- kidney biopsy from patients with SLE- nephrotic syndrome was carried out by the aid of light- immunofluorescent- and electron microscopy. Membranous-, focal-proliferative-, and diffuse-proliferative forms of the SLE- nephrotic syndrome were distinguished. Clinical characteristics of the different forms are described. Authors believe, that the underlying process of nephrological symptoms of various degree as well as readily distinguishable clinico-pathological pictures is the formation of circulating immunocomplexes of different size, developing due to basic disease itself. Comparison of the clinical symptoms and the morphological picture indicate that the elapse of time between the onset of the underlying disease and the nephrotic syndrome has an important part in the formation of the SLE-nephropathy of focal- and diffuse-proliferative type.