Diagnosis:
The diagnosis should be confirmed by screening for Anti-nuclear
antibodies (ANA) and the more specific anti-double stranded DNA (anti-
dsDNA). Measurement of ESR, complement component C3, C4 and
Circulating Immune Complexes (CIC) may help in assessing disease
activity.
The ARA criteria for diagnosis of SLE include:
1- Malar rash. 2- Discoid rash
3- Photosensitivity 4- Oral ulcers
5- Arthritis 6- Serositis
7- Renal disease 8- Neurological disorders
(seizures, psychosis)
9- Hematologic disorders
(haemolytic anaemia, lymphopenia, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia)
10- Immunologic disorders (positive LE cell test, anti-DNA, anti-sm
antibody)
11- Positive anti nuclear antibody.
Treatment:
There is no standard regimen for the treatment of lupus nephritis
patient. But there are many therapeutic tools which has to be tailored for
every case. Patient's age, sex, disease class, activity and chronicity indices
(pathologic criteria) and clinical presentation all determine the choice of
the treatment. The available treatment protocols include: (1) Prednisolone,
oral, 1mg/kg/d, (2) 3-5 days pulses of methyl prednisolone 500-1000 mg
each, (3) Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) 2-3 mg/kg orally/d (4) cytoxan 0.5-
1.0 gm/m2 surface area monthly for 6 months, (5) Azathioprine 2-3