OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the differences in the outcome of @entity1988 diagnosed either in the 1980s or the 1990s in Heidelberg, Germany. METHODS: Fifteen @entity1 with biopsy confirmed @entity1988 ( @entity1988 ) were followed up between 1980 and 1989 and 41 @entity1 were followed up between 1990 and 2000. Their status at diagnosis and their treatment schedules and outcome were analysed. 68% had WHO IV @entity1310 . RESULTS: In the decade from 1990 to 2000 there was significantly less @entity644 (46 v 17 g/l, p=0.008), significantly lower rates of @entity177 (40% v 17%, p=0.02), and fewer histological signs of chronicity (33% v 10%, p=0.01) at the time of diagnosis of @entity1988 than in the decade from 1980 to 1989. The mean (SD) time from the first appearance of @entity644 until kidney biopsy was significantly shorter in the later decade (15.4 (15.6) v 3.9 (4.7) months). Although treatment schedules were not significantly different, the outcome of the disease was significantly better in the @entity1 who were diagnosed with @entity1988 between 1990 and 2000 (p=0.045). Whereas 6/15 (40%) @entity1 between 1980 and 1989 had @entity177 after a mean time of 94 months, in the group of 1990-2000 no @entity1 developed @entity177 (median observation time 24 months). In both groups one @entity1 died from infection. A high chronicity index in histology and the presence of arterial @entity101 or @entity177 , or both, at the time of diagnosis were significant risk factors for the development of @entity177 in the course of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: The outcome of @entity1 with newly diagnosed @entity1988 was significantly better between 1990 and 2000 than between 1980 and 1989. @entity8 and chronic histological changes at time of diagnosis were significantly less common between 1990 and 2000, which is attributable to earlier diagnosis and treatment in the later decade.

Improved clinical outcome of XXXX during the past decade: importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'patient'] @entity644 :: ('MESH:D011507', 'Disease') :: ['proteinuria'] @entity1310 :: ('MESH:D009393', 'Disease') :: ['nephritis'] @entity8 :: ('MESH:D007674', 'Disease') :: ['Kidney damage'] @entity101 :: ('MESH:D006973', 'Disease') :: ['hypertension'] @entity1988 :: ('MESH:D008181', 'Disease') :: ['lupus nephritis', 'LN'] @entity177 :: ('MESH:D051437', 'Disease') :: ['renal failure', 'terminal renal failure']
@entity1988 :: (MESH:D008181,Disease) :: ['lupus nephritis']
