Reduction in glucocorticoid receptors in renal biopsies of patients with lupus nephritis.

Objectives: The first-line treatment for lupus nephritis is the administration of glucocorticoids (GC) that mediate their effects via the glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of GR protein in the cortical area of renal parenchyma of normal and diseased renal biopsies from treated and untreated patients.

Design And Methods: The immunohistochemical EnVision/HRP technique was performed on renal tissue to detect GR protein.