Relationship between Pathological Classification of Lupus Glomerularnephritis and Its Symptoms

Knowing the relationship between pathological classification of Lupus Glomerularnephritis and its symptoms is very helpful for the patients to know their disease condition very well. According to the standard formulated by International Institute of Kidney Disease and Renal Pathology Society, there are six pathological classification of Lupus Nephritis.

Class one: Minimal mesangial lupus glomerulonephritis (LGN)

Under light microscopy, the glomeruli are normal. Immunofluorescence result shows that deposition is found in the mesangial area.

Class two: Mesangial proliferative LGN

Glomerular mesangial cells proliferate diffusely and the mesangial matrix broadens to some extent.

Class three: Focal LGN

Focal LGN involves less than 50% of glomeruli lesion. The glomeruli have focal, segmental glomerular lesions.

Class four: Diffuse LGN

Diffuse LGN involves more than 50% of glomeruli lesion. The glomeruli have diffusive or segmental glomerular lesions.

Class five: Membranous

Glomeruli have diffusively thickening of glomerular basilar membrane with or without mesangial proliferation.

Class six: Advanced sclerotic LGN

More than 90% of glomeruli have sclerosis.

As pathological classification of Lupus Glomerularnephritis is closely related to its symptoms, it is possible to deduce the pathological classification according to its symptoms.

1. If the patients have mild or moderate proteinuria, they mainly belong to Class two or Class two LGN.

2. If the patients have mass of proteinuria and those with Nephrotic Syndrome, they mainly belong to Class four or Class five LGN.

3. For the patients with Nephrotic Syndrome, if they have active systemic lupus, obvious hematuria and even leukocyturia, renal damage and hypertension, the possibility of Class four LGN is great.

4. For the patients with Nephrotic Syndrome without renal damage or high blood pressure, if the systemic lupus is not obvious and also they do not have hematuria or it is not obvious, the possibility of Class five LGN is great.

5. If the patients have a long history of LGN and also have chronic renal insufficiency, especially bilateral renal atrophy, it belongs to Class six LGN.


The relationship between pathological classification of Lupus Glomerularnephriti and its symptoms is just considered as a reference. In order to know the specific classification of their disease, they should undergo renal biopsy.