(HealthDay News) -- Proteinuria levels at 12 months are the best predictor of long-term renal outcome in patients with lupus nephritis, according to a study published in the May issue of Arthritis & Rheumatology.

Maria Dall'Era, M.D., from the University of California in San Francisco, and colleagues analyzed data from the Euro-Lupus Nephritis Trial to evaluate the performance of proteinuria, serum creatinine (Cr), and urinary red blood cells (RBCs) as predictors of good long-term renal outcome (defined as a serum Cr value ?1.0 mg/dL) in patients with lupus nephritis. 76 patients were followed for a minimum of 7 years.

The researchers found that a proteinuria value of <0.8 gm/day at 12 months after randomization was the single best predictor of good long-term renal function (sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 78%). The performance of the outcome measure was not improved with the addition of serum Cr to proteinuria. Sensitivity dropped to 47% with the addition of urinary RBCs.

The authors suggest "that urinary RBCs should not be included as a component of clinical trial response criteria in lupus nephritis."

One author disclosed financial ties to the pharmaceutical industry.

Source

1. Dall'Era, M, et al. Arthritis & Rheumatology; doi: 10.1002/art.39026.

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