Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Low‐Grade Proteinuria Does Not Predict Favorable Outcomes in Lupus Nephritis: A Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors' conclusion
Low-grade proteinuria (UPro <1g/24h) does not confer better renal outcomes or treatment response in LN. Glomerulosclerosis predicts renal function decline in relapsing LN.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis (LN), incident or relapsing122 incident, 117 relapsing LN
- Participants
- 239 patients
- Exposure
- Baseline urine protein (UPro) <1 g/24 h vs ≥1 g/24 h
- UPro <1n = 42
- UPro ≥1n = 197reference
- Outcome
- Time to first 30% and 40% eGFR decline
- Follow-up
- 156 weeks
Methodological detailsCox proportional hazards regression, Kaplan-Meier analyses
- Cox proportional hazards regression
- Kaplan-Meier analyses
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
30% or 40% eGFR decline
- Low-grade proteinuria had equivalent risk probabilities of 30% or 40% estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline vs high-grade proteinuria
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Overall renal response · weeks 26 and 52
- Similar in both groups
Clinical and pathology features
- UPro <1: lower incidence of urinary sediments, higher frequency of class V, lower activity index, similar chronicity index vs UPro ≥1
Predictors of long-term renal deterioration
- Glomerulosclerosis independently predicted deterioration in relapsing but not incident LN
Original publication
Low‐Grade Proteinuria Does Not Predict Favorable Outcomes in Lupus Nephritis: A Longitudinal Cohort Study. Arthritis Rheumatol. Published 25 February 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →