The role of peritubular capillaritis in severity of lupus nephritis

Background & ObjectivePresence of lupus nephritis is associated with a shorter time to death in systemic lupus erythematosus. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of peritubular capillaritis (ptc) and its relationship with both active and chronic lesions in lupus nephritis.Material-MethodsSpecimens from 57 patients were re-evaluated. The degree of inflammation within the peritubular capillaries in each biopsy was assessed according to the Banff classification, and ptc scoring was performed. Additionally, patients were grouped based on high/low activity and chronicity index scores.ResultsForty-five (78.9%) of the patients were female, with a mean age of 27.43 years. Ptc was identified in 45 (78.9%) patients, with ptc scores of 1, 2, and 3 observed in 20 (35.08%), 20 (35.08%), and 5 (8.7%) patients, respectively. Severe ptc (scores 2 or 3) was more commonly detected in patients with elevated serum creatinine (>1.20 mg/dL) compared to those with normal creatinine levels (92.3% vs 29.5%, <i>p</i> < 0.001). The severity of ptc was higher in Class 4 patients than in Class 3 patients (68.2% vs 21.7%, <i>p</i> = 0.005). The rate of high ptc scores was greater in patients with an activity index of 6 or above compared to those with an activity index below 6 (62.5% vs 30.3%, <i>p</i> = 0.032). No significant correlation was found between the chronicity index and ptc.ConclusionsThe findings of this study suggest that ptc is a frequently observed pathological feature in patients with lupus nephritis. Furthermore, the severity of ptc appears to be positively associated with elevated serum creatinine levels, and higher ptc scores are more commonly detected in cases with a high activity index.