Full-House Nephropathy in Antinuclear Antibody-Negative Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Case Report
July 2024
in “
Clinical Case Reports
”
Studysummary In this case study, a 25-year-old presented with symptoms of lupus but tested negative for antinuclear antibodies, complicating diagnosis. The researchers emphasize that comprehensive diagnostic approaches, beyond ANA testing, are vital for effectively identifying and treating lupus nephritis to avoid serious outcomes. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
This case report describes a 25-year-old female with antinuclear antibody (ANA)-negative systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who developed class IV lupus nephritis with full-house nephropathy. Despite negative serological markers, clinical symptoms such as malar rash, photosensitivity, hair loss, and renal impairment led to a strong suspicion of SLE. Treatment with methylprednisolone and mycophenolate mofetil improved her condition. The report highlights the diagnostic challenges of ANA-negative SLE, emphasizing the importance of clinical judgment and the need for distinct guidelines and inclusion of ANA-negative cases in clinical trials to better understand SLE's heterogeneity.
