Table 1.
Numbers of initial articles retrieved and final articles included per research question in the systematic literature review
| Question | Initial number of PubMed hits | Final number of studies included |
|---|---|---|
| Diagnosis and classification of lupus nephritis | ||
| 1. What is the prognostic significance of kidney biopsy findings? 2. Risk stratification of patients with lupus nephritis by incorporating demographic, clinical and histological data |
654 973 |
33 64 |
| Pharmacologic treatment of lupus nephritis | ||
| 3. What is the evidence for the benefits and harms of hydroxychloroquine in lupus nephritis? 4. ‘Induction’ therapies in lupus nephritis (including dosage of glucocorticoids and use of calcineurin inhibitors) 5. ‘Maintenance’ therapies in lupus nephritis (including dosage of glucocorticoids and use of calcineurin inhibitors) |
208 1227 |
16 127 |
| Monitoring and therapeutic targets | ||
| 6. How should lupus nephritis be monitored? 7. What is the goal of treatment in lupus nephritis? 8. Duration of immunosuppressive treatment in lupus nephritis |
2739 354 98 |
85 18 16 |
| Refractory lupus nephritis | ||
| 9. What is the definition of refractory lupus nephritis? 10. How should refractory/flaring lupus nephritis be treated? |
270 286 |
13 36 |
| Special topics in lupus nephritis | ||
| 11. Management of lupus nephritis during pregnancy and lactation 12. Management of antiphospholipid syndrome – nephropathy |
173 345 |
17 18 |
| Chronic kidney disease in lupus nephritis | ||
| 13. Management of end-stage kidney disease in lupus nephritis 14. Renal transplantation in patients with lupus nephritis |
109 309 |
42 44 |
| Comorbidities and adjunct therapy in lupus nephritis | ||
| 15. Comorbidities in lupus nephritis (cardiovascular, infections) | 419 | 49 |