Pediatric Lupus Nephritis-Review of Literature

Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a multisystem autoimmune disorder characterized by immune dysregulation and formation of autoantibodies. A high index of suspicion is necessary to diagnose SLE. Children have more systemic involvement than adults. Kidney involvement is seen in a significant proportion of children. With advancement of therapy the survival rate of patients with SLE has significantly improved. Even then lupus nephritis is still the most important predictor of morbidity and mortality. Treatment of lupus nephritis is mostly derived from studies in adults as data on children is still lacking. Prednisolone and cyclophosphamide was the mainstay of treatment till now. Recently drugs like mycophenolate mofetil, azathioprine, rituximab are also being used in treatment of lupus nephritis with promising results and without significant adverse effects. In this review we will be discussing lupus nephritis, its diagnosis, pathogenesis, clinical picture and treatment advancements.