2019 Update of the Joint European League Against Rheumatism and European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (EULAR/ERA-EDTA) recommendations for the management of lupus nephritis
Abstract
Objective: To update the 2012 EULAR/ERA-EDTA recommendations for the management of lupus nephritis (LN). Methods: Following the EULAR standardised operating procedures, a systematic literature review was performed.
Members of a multidisciplinary Task Force voted independently on their level of agreeement with the formed statements. Results: The changes include recommendations for treatment targets, use of glucocorticoids and calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) and management of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).
The target of therapy is complete response (proteinuria 1 g/24 hours despite renin-angiotensin-aldosterone blockade, MMF in combination with glucocorticoids is preferred. Assessment for kidney and extra-renal disease activity, and management of comorbidities is lifelong with repeat kidney biopsy in cases of incomplete response or nephritic flares.
In ESKD, transplantation is the preferred kidney replacement option with immunosuppression guided by transplant protocols and/or extra-renal manifestations. Treatment of LN in children follows the same principles as adult disease.
Conclusions: We have updated the EULAR recommendations for the management of LN to facilitate homogenization of patient care.