Repeated renal biopsy in proliferative lupus nephritis--predictive role of serum C1q and albuminuria.

Abstract

Despite aggressive immunosuppressive therapy, 9/18 patients still had active proliferative or membranous nephritis at a second renal biopsy. Serum C1q levels at both first and repeated renal biopsies were found to be a predictive marker of the histopathological outcome.