Grant: Travel Awards - Institute Community Support

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) has been regarded as a disease of women of childbearing age; however, it can affect both men and women of all ages. Kidney involvement from lupus (lupus nephritis) occurs in up to 50-75% of adults with SLE and can result in poor survival if not treated appropriately. Lupus nephritis results in the abnormal presence of protein in the urine which is know as proteinuria. Although the level of proteinuria is considered an important measure to document improvement in lupus nephritis, the percentage and time to complete and partial recovery time from abnormal levels of proteinuria has not been well described with treatment in daily clinical practice. This study is important in that it shows that the time needed to for complete and partial recovery from proteinuria in lupus nephritis is lengthy. Rheumatologists and lupus patients should be patient and perseverant with treatment. This study highlighted that only 58% of lupus nephritis patients achieved partial and/or complete proteinuria recovery by year 1 and others continue to improve over time; 79% recovered by year 2. A number of patients were able to achieve partial improvement from proteinuria by year 1, 48% and 69% by year 2. Moreover, the level of proteinuria at baseline visit predicts the percent of patients who respond over time. First, the results of this study are very important to help us better understand the time needed to achieve complete and partial recovery in proteinuria in lupus nephritis. Second, it will direct rheumatologists treating lupus in academic centres and in the community. Third, and most importantly, this study provides crucial findings that serve as a guide in designing future studies on new treatments for lupus nephritis and hopefully the approval of new medications.