Persistent Renal Activity Despite Systemic Remission After Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Lupus Nephritis

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) remains one of the most prevalent autoimmune diseases. Despite the advances in immunosuppressive therapies, a considerable proportion of patients continue to be refractory to conventional treatments. In this context, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has emerged as a promising strategy aimed at resetting the immune system and inducing long-term remission [1–4]. The potential role of HSCT in SLE was first demonstrated by Marmont in 1998 [5], and subsequent studies have further supported its efficacy and safety, reporting 5-year disease-free survival rates between 70% and 85% [6,7].