Use of Renal Biopsy in Predicting Outcome in Lupus Nephritis

Renal involvement is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in SLE. Some authors suggest that renal biopsy should be performed on all patients with SLE and morphological findings be used as a guide for therapy and prognosis. Recent cumulative evidence indicates that presence of the following conditions at the time of biopsy is associated with increased risk for renal failure: young age (<23 years) increased serum creatinine level, diffuse proliferative lesions (WHO classification class IV) and a high chronicity index on renal histologic analysis. This article also reviews the lupus nephritis