Lupus Nephritis with Coexistent Antiphospholipid Antibodies Associated Nephropathy: A Case Report and Literature Review

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) associated nephropathy is a distinct clinical entity and can occur in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) independent of or associated with lupus nephritis. Associated APS nephropathy in a patient with lupus predicts poor renal outcome, especially if left untreated. Recognizing a coexistent APS nephropathy in a patient with lupus nephritis is of utmost importance. Here, we present a patient with severe lupus nephritis with antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) who had no thrombotic manifestations of APS clinically. On renal biopsy, she was found to have APS nephropathy. Remission was achieved after 3 months of anticoagulation and immunosuppression. This case illustrates the importance of renal biopsy in a patient of SLE with aPLs. Renal biopsy often alerts a treating rheumatologist of the presence of thrombotic involvement in such patients, thereby altering the treatment of such patients.