M. Nakano et al., Renal haemodynamic characteristics and their correlation with renal pathology in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, NEPHROLOGY, 6(1), 2001, pp. 33-36
To clarify the characteristics of renal haemodynamics and their correlation
with renal pathology in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE),
renal function and renal biopsy findings from 101 SLE patients were analyse
d retrospectively. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow (
RPF) were examined simultaneously. Filtration fraction (FF) was calculated
from the values obtained for GFR and RPF (GFR/RPF). The GFR was low in one-
third and within normal limits in two-thirds of class IV patients with lupu
s nephritis (LN). In contrast, high RPF was observed in half of class IV pa
tients. As a result, over 70% of class IV patients possessed a very low FF
(less than 15%). The sensitivity of very low FF for class IV LN was signifi
cantly higher than that of low GFR. In conclusion, low FF was frequently re
cognized, especially in patients with diffuse proliferative LN. Decreased F
F was a highly sensitive indicator of diffuse proliferative LN. Thus, deter
mination of renal haemodynamics, including FF, may be a useful clinical par
ameter for evaluating renal involvement in patients with SLE.