%0 Journal Article
%T Clinical features and histological patterns of lupus nephritis in Eastern Nepal
%A Dhakal Subodh
%A Sharma Sanjib
%A Bhatta Narendra
%A Bhattarai Sabina
%J Saudi Journal of Kidney Diseases and Transplantation
%D 2011
%I Medknow Publications
%X To determine the clinical profile and patterns of lupus nephritis patients in Eastern Nepal, we studied 38 patients fulfilling the 1982 revised criteria of American College of Rheu-matology for systemic lupus erythematous (SLE), followed up from January 2004 to January 2008. Arthritis was a common initial feature in addition to variable cutaneous, cardiac, pulmonary and neuropsychiatric manifestations. Renal biopsy showed grade 1 changes in 5 (13.5%) patients, grade 2 changes in 13 (35.1%) patients, grade 3 changes in 9 (24.3%) patients, grade 4 changes in 7 (18.9%) patients, grade 5 changes in 2 (5.4%) patients, and grade 6 changes in 2.7% patients. Antinuclear antibody (ANA) assay and anti-ds DNA were positive in 78.4 and 81.1%, respec-tively. We conclude that mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (grade 2) was the most common pattern of lupus nephritis encountered in our study. Timely diagnosis and treatment may improve the overall patientsˇä survival.
%U http://www.sjkdt.org/article.asp?issn=1319-2442;year=2011;volume=22;issue=2;spage=377;epage=380;aulast=Dhakal