Clinical and immunohistopathological correlation of lupus nephropathy in a reference center of the Colombian Caribbean during the years 2012 to 2013

Objectives: To determine the behavior of lupus nephropathy (LN) in a population group of a reference center in the Colombian Caribbean during 2012 and 2013, analyzing the most prevalent clinical and laboratory findings and its relation to the immunohistotopathological findings, define the class of Lupus nephritis with greater prevalence and the clinical or paraclinic data more correlated with this one. Methods: Descriptive, retrospective, cross-sectional study conducted from January 1st of 2012 to December 31st 2013, which included 53 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus according to diagnostic critearia of the Colegio Americano de Reumatologia, with manifestations of renal impairment. Results: In our study population in the Colombian Caribbean, LN predominates more in women and class IV represents 66.03% of the total cases analyzed, in which there was more hematuria present, hypertension and proteinuria with nephrotic pattern, as well as higher levels of serum creatinine. Despite the lack of data, none of the clinical or paraclinical variables was specific for a certain class of LN and in relation to the immunostaining, lambda chains were positive in 100% of the cases and only C4 and fibrinogen were specific to LN class IV. Conclusions: Class IV LN is the most prevalent and with a higher percentage of predominance of the variables hematuria, proteinuria, hypertension, elevated serum creatinine and bun levels. At the same time they are not specific for some class of LN in our population