Research Article

Clinical and serological characteristics and renal outcomes across histological classes of lupus nephritis: A retrospective cohort study

Volume: 43 Number: 2 June 30, 2026
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Clinical and serological characteristics and renal outcomes across histological classes of lupus nephritis: A retrospective cohort study

Abstract

Lupus nephritis (LN) is classified histopathologically according to the 2003 International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society (ISN/RPS) classification. We aimed to compare characteristics and renal outcomes across histological classes of LN, with particular emphasis on class I/II disease. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with biopsy-proven LN. Patients were categorized into three groups: class I/II, class V or mixed class II/V, and proliferative class III/IV(±V). Baseline demographic, clinical, and serological characteristics and short-term renal outcomes [12-month complete renal response (CRR), partial renal response (PRR), and inadequate renal response (IRR)] were compared between groups. Long-term outcomes [chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease (ESRD)] were assessed with survival analyses. A total of 82 patients were included: 13 with class I/II, 15 with class V or mixed class II/V, and 54 with proliferative class III/IV(±V) LN. Baseline proteinuria and serum creatinine levels were significantly higher, whereas the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly lower, in patients with proliferative disease (all p<0.05). Most demographic, clinical, and serological features were otherwise comparable, except for anti-centromere B positivity, observed only in the class I/II group (27%, p=0.004). Rates of renal responses at 12 months were similar across groups (p=0.766). During a mean follow-up of 158 months, 18 patients (22%) developed CKD or ESRD. Ten-year CKD/ESRD-free survival was 82% in both class I/II and in class V or II/V and was 77% in class III/IV(±V) LN, respectively, without significant differences between groups (log-rank p=0.371). Patients achieving CRR or PRR showed a trend toward better renal survival compared with non-responders (log-rank p=0.065). These findings underscore the clinical heterogeneity across LN classes and the need for individualized management beyond histopathology, while the long-term prognosis of class I/II LN remains to be clarified in prospective studies.

Keywords

Supporting Institution

None

Ethical Statement

This study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki as revised in 2013. Ethical approval was obtained from the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Aydın Adnan Menderes University Faculty of Medicine (Decision No: 09; Protocol No: 2025/109). Due to the retrospective design of the study and the use of anonymized clinical data, the requirement for written informed consent was waived by the ethics committee.

Thanks

The authors have no acknowledgements to declare.

References

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Rheumatology and Arthritis

Journal Section

Research Article

Publication Date

June 30, 2026

Submission Date

March 2, 2026

Acceptance Date

June 23, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 43 Number: 2

APA
Köse Çobanoğlu, R., Şentosun, U., Bayındır, H., & Sargın, G. (2026). Clinical and serological characteristics and renal outcomes across histological classes of lupus nephritis: A retrospective cohort study. Deneysel Ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi, 43(2), 183-190. https://izlik.org/JA57TL99KF
AMA
1.Köse Çobanoğlu R, Şentosun U, Bayındır H, Sargın G. Clinical and serological characteristics and renal outcomes across histological classes of lupus nephritis: A retrospective cohort study. J. Exp. Clin. Med. 2026;43(2):183-190. https://izlik.org/JA57TL99KF
Chicago
Köse Çobanoğlu, Reyhan, Utku Şentosun, Hasan Bayındır, and Gökhan Sargın. 2026. “Clinical and Serological Characteristics and Renal Outcomes across Histological Classes of Lupus Nephritis: A Retrospective Cohort Study”. Deneysel Ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi 43 (2): 183-90. https://izlik.org/JA57TL99KF.
EndNote
Köse Çobanoğlu R, Şentosun U, Bayındır H, Sargın G (June 1, 2026) Clinical and serological characteristics and renal outcomes across histological classes of lupus nephritis: A retrospective cohort study. Deneysel ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi 43 2 183–190.
IEEE
[1]R. Köse Çobanoğlu, U. Şentosun, H. Bayındır, and G. Sargın, “Clinical and serological characteristics and renal outcomes across histological classes of lupus nephritis: A retrospective cohort study”, J. Exp. Clin. Med., vol. 43, no. 2, pp. 183–190, June 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA57TL99KF
ISNAD
Köse Çobanoğlu, Reyhan - Şentosun, Utku - Bayındır, Hasan - Sargın, Gökhan. “Clinical and Serological Characteristics and Renal Outcomes across Histological Classes of Lupus Nephritis: A Retrospective Cohort Study”. Deneysel ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi 43/2 (June 1, 2026): 183-190. https://izlik.org/JA57TL99KF.
JAMA
1.Köse Çobanoğlu R, Şentosun U, Bayındır H, Sargın G. Clinical and serological characteristics and renal outcomes across histological classes of lupus nephritis: A retrospective cohort study. J. Exp. Clin. Med. 2026;43:183–190.
MLA
Köse Çobanoğlu, Reyhan, et al. “Clinical and Serological Characteristics and Renal Outcomes across Histological Classes of Lupus Nephritis: A Retrospective Cohort Study”. Deneysel Ve Klinik Tıp Dergisi, vol. 43, no. 2, June 2026, pp. 183-90, https://izlik.org/JA57TL99KF.
Vancouver
1.Reyhan Köse Çobanoğlu, Utku Şentosun, Hasan Bayındır, Gökhan Sargın. Clinical and serological characteristics and renal outcomes across histological classes of lupus nephritis: A retrospective cohort study. J. Exp. Clin. Med. [Internet]. 2026 Jun. 1;43(2):183-90. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA57TL99KF