Long-term follow-up of the first Dutch Lupus Nephritis Study
| AZA/MP | CY | |
|---|---|---|
| Patients (n) | 37 | 50 |
| Years of follow-up (median, range) | 9.6 (0.9–13.2) | 9.6 (0.1–13.0) |
| Lost to follow-up (n, %) | 3† (8%) | 3† (6%) |
| Non-sustained doubling of serum creatinine (n, %) | 8 (22%) | 5 (10%) |
| Sustained doubling of serum creatinine (n, %) | 6 (16%) | 4 (8%) |
| Primary treatment failure (n, %) | 1 (3%) | 0 (0%) |
| Renal relapse (n, %) | 14 (38%)* | 5 (10%) |
| Doubling of serum creatinine | 4 | 3 |
| Proteinuric flare | 9* | 2 |
| Both | 1 | - |
| Renal relapse rate‡ | 5.5 | 1.2 |
| Second renal relapse (n, %) | 6 of 12§ (50%) | 1 of 4§ (25%) |
| ESRD (n, %) | 2 (5%) | 2 (4%) |
| Death (n, %) | 6 (16%) | 5 (10%) |
↵* Statistically significant difference (p<0.05) compared to CY group.
↵† Lost to follow-up – AZA/MP: week 92, 290, and 328; CY: week 49, 195, and 266.
↵‡ Number of patients with a renal relapse/100 patient-years.
↵§ AZA/MP: 1 patient reached ESRD and 1 patient died shortly after first renal relapse; CY: 1 patient reached ESRD shortly after first renal relapse.
AZA/MP, azathioprine/methylprednisolone; CY, cyclophosphamide; ESRD, end-stage renal disease.