Early response to immunosuppressive therapy predicts good renal outcome in lupus nephritis lessons from long-term followup of patients in the Euro-Lupus Nephritis Trial - Lessons from long-term followup of patients in the Euro-Lupus Nephritis Trial

Abstract

Objective. In the Euro-Lupus Nephritis Trial (ELNT), 90 patients with lupus nephritis were randomly assigned to a high-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide (IV CYC) regimen (6 monthly pulses and 2 quarterly pulses with escalating doses) or a low-dose IV CYC regimen (6 pulses of 500 mg given at intervals of 2 weeks), each of which was followed by azathioprine (AZA). After a median followup of 41 months, a difference in efficacy between the 2 regimens was not observed. The present analysis was undertaken to extend the followup and to identify prognostic factors.