Varela DC et al. – Delayed lupus nephritis (LN) is not uncommon in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pts. The identified risk factors might aid in its diagnosis and enhance ability to identify patients at risk for this complication of SLE. Methods
Study to describe and analyze the clinical and immunological characteristics of pts with delayed LN
In a cross-sectional study, SLE pts who developed renal involvement for >=5 yrs after the first manifestation(s), (n=48) were compared to SLE pts in whom LN developed within 5 yrs or less (n=187)
A control group: no LN (NLN) group, consisted of long-standing SLE pts (duration of disease > 10 yrs); never shown signs of renal involvement (n=164)
Results
The delayed LN group was positively associated with Sjögren’s syndrome, lung involvement, and antiphospholipid syndrome vs early LN
However, its renal clinical expression and histopathological patterns were similar to those of early-onset LN
The frequency of anti-dsDNA, anti-Sm and anti-RNP antibodies was higher in pts with LN vs NLN group, as was the frequency of low complement levels
Jaccoud’s arthropathy was a protective factor for nephritis
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