2024 | Brad H. Rovin, Isabelle M. Ayoub, Tak Mao Chan, Zhi-Hong Liu, Juan M. Mejía-Vilel, Ethan M. Balk, Craig E. Gordon, Gaelen Adam, Marcello A. Tonelli, Michael Cheung, Amy Earley, and Jürgen Floege
The KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Lupus Nephritis updates the 2021 guideline, incorporating new drugs and therapies. Belimumab and voclosporin, approved by the FDA and EMA, are now recommended as add-on immunosuppressants for lupus nephritis (LN). The guideline recommends initial treatment for active Class III or IV LN with glucocorticoids plus one of several options, including mycophenolic acid analogs (MPAA), low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide, or combinations with belimumab or CNI. These recommendations are graded as 1B, indicating strong evidence. The choice of initial therapy depends on factors like cost, availability, adherence, and CKD severity. Triple therapy may be considered for patients with good kidney function and heavy proteinuria, or for those at high risk of LN flare. Maintenance immunosuppression may be extended for patients on triple therapy. For pure Class V LN, no definitive recommendations exist, but glucocorticoids plus MPAA, CNI, or cyclophosphamide are suggested. The guideline also emphasizes managing CKD progression through blood pressure control and avoiding nephrotoxins. New therapies are under evaluation, and future updates may include sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors. The guideline is supported by KDIGO and includes disclosures of potential conflicts of interest.The KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Lupus Nephritis updates the 2021 guideline, incorporating new drugs and therapies. Belimumab and voclosporin, approved by the FDA and EMA, are now recommended as add-on immunosuppressants for lupus nephritis (LN). The guideline recommends initial treatment for active Class III or IV LN with glucocorticoids plus one of several options, including mycophenolic acid analogs (MPAA), low-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide, or combinations with belimumab or CNI. These recommendations are graded as 1B, indicating strong evidence. The choice of initial therapy depends on factors like cost, availability, adherence, and CKD severity. Triple therapy may be considered for patients with good kidney function and heavy proteinuria, or for those at high risk of LN flare. Maintenance immunosuppression may be extended for patients on triple therapy. For pure Class V LN, no definitive recommendations exist, but glucocorticoids plus MPAA, CNI, or cyclophosphamide are suggested. The guideline also emphasizes managing CKD progression through blood pressure control and avoiding nephrotoxins. New therapies are under evaluation, and future updates may include sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors. The guideline is supported by KDIGO and includes disclosures of potential conflicts of interest.