Modeling of progressive glomerular injury in humans with lupus nephritis

We studied glomerular function longitudinally for 36-120 mo in 21 patients undergoing treatment for diffuse, proliferative lupus nephritis. We determined glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and glomerular oncotic pressure (IIGC) and computed the two-kidney ultrafiltration coefficient (Kf) at 6- to 12-mo intervals. The relationships and cross talk among the three variables over time were then analyzed by eigenfunction regression and canonical correlations. We also performed a morphometric analysis of serial biopsies and computed single-nephron Kf in patent glomeruli at baseline and after 36-94 mo of follow-up. Patients were divisible into progressors (n = 12) or nonprogressors (n = 9) according to the presence or absence, respectively, of an irrevocable decline in GFR over time. Examination of longitudinal variables revealed GFR to be strongly related to Kf in all patients and inversely related to IIGC in progressors. By serial morphometric analysis we observed a threefold increase in the prevalence of global sclerosis in progressors but unchanged prevalence in nonprogressors. Whereas single-nephron Kf of remnant glomeruli increased to supernormal levels in nonprogressors, the absence of this compensatory phenomenon in progressors permitted GFR and Kf to decline in parallel with the declining number of functional glomeruli.