A recent study underscores the effectiveness of kidney transplants in people with lupus nephritis (LN) and the importance of getting those on dialysis on the kidney transplant list as early as possible, even in the presence of active lupus. Researchers analyzed transplant results in a Brazilian LN population from 1996 to 2016 and found a 96.9% survival rate one year after the surgery. Results were also encouraging five years after transplantation with a survival rate of about 93%.

Poor kidney outcomes (e.g., return to dialysis, transplant rejection, transplant removal, etc.) were observed in just 23.7% of study participants by year five post-transplant. Venous thrombosis (a blood clot that forms within a vein) and antiphospholipid syndrome (a disorder of the immune system that causes an increased risk of blood clots) were more common in those with poor kidney outcomes.

Up to 60% of people with lupus will develop kidney complications. A kidney transplant can be a critical, and sometimes necessary, option for someone with severe LN. Learn more about kidney transplant for lupus: your essential questions answered.

Read the study