[Survival of patients with diffuse glomerulonephritis in disseminated lupus erythematosus treated with a combination of anticoagulants, corticosteroids and immunosuppressants].

The results are reported from the treatment of 17 patients with diffuse glomerulonephritis in lupus erythematodes disseminatus (16 females and I male, aged from 16 to 54, average age of 29.0), carried out during the period 1976-1982. All patients were treated with a combination of anticoagulants, corticosteroids and immunosuppressives in the course of II to 82 months (23.9 months on the average). By the end of 1978, corticosteroids were administered 3 times daily, whereafter--once in the morning or every second day. Complete clinical-laboratory remission was attained in 13 patients (76.4%). Any treatment to those patients was discontinued for 19 to 86 months (54.6 months on the average). Only in one patients recurrence was observed, coped with the respective treatment. Two of the patients died, after 43 and 82-month treatment respectively, of pulmonary pneumonia and another 2--of complications: associated with corticosteroids. With the combined treatment with anticoagulants: corticosteroids and immunosuppressives complete clinical-laboratory remission could be attained with a duration of over 4 1/2 years on the average in 3/4 of the treated. The combined treatment could preserve or restore the renal function, if renal insufficiency had not developed or developed but not very advanced. The maintenance of the complete clinical laboratory remission does not need a constant administration of corticosteroids or other pharmaceuticals. Lethality in the patients with diffuse lupus glomerulonephritis is still high. The single and alternative administration of corticosteroids reduces the risk of adverse effects.