Table 3.
Key points to differentiate preeclampsia from lupus nephritis
| Preeclampsia | Lupus nephritis | |
|---|---|---|
| Onset | After 20 weeks | Possible onset before 20 weeks |
| Hypertension | Present | May be present or absent |
| Urinary sediment | Negative | Positive |
| Uric acid | >4.9 mg/dL | <4.9 mg/dL90 |
| Complement | No change | Decrease from baseline during pregnancy (could be within the normal range) |
| Anti-dsDNA | No change | Increased |
| Other signs of SLE activity | Absent | Present |
| Urinary calcium | <195 mg/24 hours | >195 mg/24 hours91 |
Abbreviations: dsDNA, double stranded DNA; SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus.