The importance of serological and histopathological diagnosis of the different forms of systemic lupus erythematosus with and without lupus nephritis

The aim of this study was to compare the serological profiles of 50 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with (N+) and 50 without (N-) renal involvement and the histopathology results of their kidney specimens in order to find out whether the presence of specific antibodies correlated with renal involvement. All of the SLE patients had antinuclear antibodies. The mean value for the antinuclear antibodies was 4.9 IU/ml in the N- and 16.3 IU/ml in the N+ group (p < 0.0321). A total of 36% of N- patients had dsDNA (mean value 25.5 IU/ml), while, based on biopsy findings, 46% of N+ patients with classes II, III and IV had dsDNA (mean value 25.5 IU/ml; p < 0.0218). Lupus anticoagulant was found in 16% of the N- and in 4% of the N+ group (p < 0.0455). Arthritis occurred less frequently in the N+ group (p = 0.0291), and serositis more frequently in the N+ group (p = 0.0153). The serological profile of the SLE patients did not fully reflect the type of renal changes. The gold standard remains the results o...