Background: To study the clinical activity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in recipients of renal transplants (rT) performed by terminal renal failure (TRF) secondary to lupus nephritis.
Methods: The clinical evolution of 11 patients with SLE (ARA criteria) and TRF were evaluated with a descriptive character by the modified index of activity SLE-DAI during dialysis periods and post rT as well as in the course prior to disease. A comparative analysis was carried out in a control group of 25 patients with SLE without renal failure.
Results: The indexes of activity of the group investigated were higher than those of the control group during the predialysis period, similar in the dialysis period and significantly decreased (p < 0.01) in the post rT. In the group with rT a significant decrease was reported in the indexes of activity in the periods of dialysis (p < 0.05) and post rT (p < 0.01) with respect to the previous period. A significant reduction was observed in the post rT therapeutic options.
Conclusions: The clinical activity of systemic lupus erythematosus is reduced in the terminal renal failure in dialysis. The most significant reduction of clinical activity is found after renal transplantation.