Open AccessKidney transplantation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Author(s) -
Sophia Lionaki,
Chrysanthi Skalioti,
John Boletis
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
world journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 2220-3230
DOI - 10.5500/wjt.v4.i3.176
Subject(s) - lupus nephritis , medicine , systemic lupus erythematosus , kidney transplantation , disease , transplantation , intensive care medicine , renal function , immunology
Despite improvements in overall prognosis in lupus nephritis, 10%-30% of patients with proliferative renal involvement progress to end stage renal disease, according to the severity of the disease and associated socioeconomic factors. Kidney transplantation has been recognized as the most appropriate treatment for those patients, but several issues remain after renal function restoration in a lupus recipient. Among these are the fear of lupus nephritis recurrence in the graft, the choice of immunosuppressive therapy in cases of recurrent lupus for a patient who has already received a toxic and prolonged immunosuppressive course, and finally, the management of comorbidities to reduce associated morbidities in the long term. All the above topics are examined in this review, with the hope of providing a clear picture of data as illustrated in the current literature.