Lupus Nephritis Class IV-Global Is Associated with a Higher Risk of End-Stage Renal Disease than Class IV-Segmental.

Introduction: The International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) classification of lupus nephritis (LN) divides class IV into segmental and global (IV-S and IV-G) based on evidence suggesting different renal outcomes. However, subsequent studies have shown conflicting results.

Objective: This study was performed to compare long-term renal outcomes between the IV-S and IV-G classes.

Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study of adult patients with biopsy-proven class IV LN using the ISN/RPS classification. The primary end point was end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Results: Among the 89 patients, rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis was twice as frequent in the IV-G group (60 vs. 29%; p = 0.005) than that in the IV-S group. Moreover, the IV-G group had a higher rate of biopsy with cellular and fibrocellular crescents (70.9 vs. 47.1%, p = 0.024) and more crescentic glomerulonephritis (34.5 vs. 5.8%, p = 0.007) than the IV-S group. After a mean follow-up of 57 months, the IV-G group had a greater risk of ESRD (RR 3.9; 95% CI 1.2-12.2, p = 0.006) than the IV-S group. Multivariate analysis indicated that class IV-G was an independent predictor of ESRD.

Conclusions: Patients with class IV-G have a higher risk of ESRD than patients with class IV-S.