Consensus document from the systemic auto-immune disease group (GEAS) of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI) and the Spanish Society of Nephrology (S.E.N.)
Guillermo Ruiz-Irastorza, Gerard Espinosa, Miguel A. Frutos, Juan Jiménez-Alonso, Manuel Praga, Lucio Pallarés, Francisco Rivera, Ángel Robles-Marhuenda, Alfons Segarra, Carlos Quereda
Lupus nephritis affects over half of all patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This condition increases mortality and morbidity rates among patients due to, among other reasons, the risk of chronic kidney disease with the need for renal replacement therapy in approximately 25% of cases. Lupus nephritis is diagnosed in our health area in women in their thirties and is the primary cause of systemic disease with secondary renal involvement.1 Although marked advances have been made in recent decades in the diagnosis and treatment of this condition, there are several aspects that require collaboration between different specialists.
With the objective of establishing a consensus on the primary subjects related to the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with lupus nephritis, the auto-immune disease group (Grupo de Enfermedades Autoinmunes Sistémicas, GEAS) of the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (Sociedad Española de Medicina Interna, SEMI) and the Spanish Society of Nephrology (S.E.N.) have formed a joint task force for the elaboration of a consensus document following a critical review of the available literature.