Diffuse proliferative lupus glomerulonephritis. Recovery from prolonged renal failure

W. S. Moore, S. J. Guggenheim and R. J. Anderson

A patient with systemic lupus of erythematosus, diffuse proliferative lupus glomerulonephritis, and deteriorating renal function was treated with immunosuppression. During the subsequent eight weeks of hemodialysis and immunosuppression, substantial recovery of renal function occurred, allowing for cessation of dialysis. In the following year, the endogenous creatinine clearance increased to 30 mL/min. A therapeutic trial of prednisone is indicated for patients with abrupt, severe deterioration in renal function in association with clinical, histological, or serological evidence of activity of lupus nephritis in the absence of other causes of renal failure.