January 3, 2024
[Brussels, Belgium] Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) is pleased to announce the publication of the KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Lupus Nephritis, published today in the January 2024 issue of Supplements to Kidney International, with an Executive Summary published in the main pages of the journal. Developed under the stewardship of Co-Chairs Brad Rovin, MD (United States) and Jürgen Floege, MD (Germany), this guideline is an update of the Lupus Nephritis (LN) chapter of the KDIGO 2021 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Management of Glomerular Diseases.
Drawing from the latest approvals of belimumab and voclosporin by the FDA and EMA, the guideline provides updated recommendations and practice points for using these new therapies as add-on immunosuppressive agents in the management of LN. The development of the guideline followed an explicit process of evidence review and appraisal. Treatment approaches and guideline recommendations were based on systematic reviews of relevant studies. Appraisal of the quality of the evidence and the strength of recommendations followed the ‘Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation’ (GRADE) approach. Graded recommendations are categorized by strength and certainty of evidence, while practice points serve as expert guidance to complement these recommendations. Limitations of the evidence are discussed, with areas for future research also presented. As part of KDIGO’s transparent guideline development process, the draft guideline was made available for public comment in March 2023, receiving valuable feedback, which was meticulously reviewed and considered by the Guideline Work Group.
“We are thrilled to publish the Lupus Nephritis Guideline, which follows only two years after the publication of the KDIGO Glomerular Diseases Guideline and reflects the latest advancements in the field,” said Dr. Rovin. “This guideline offers critical insights into navigating the complexities of LN treatment, especially with the introduction of novel therapies, and highlights the need for individualized therapy selection based on patient-specific factors and clinical scenarios. With ongoing trials evaluating additional novel therapeutics and promising new data on the horizon, the guideline sets the stage for future advancements in the management and treatment of LN.”
“This guideline includes several key updates to inform clinical decision-making, leveraging the latest evidence to integrate new treatments into the arsenal of established clinical standards,” said Dr. Floege. “A section on chronic kidney disease progression in LN underscores the importance of addressing broader kidney health concerns beyond acute treatment. We hope the rigorous research, clinical insights, and collective expertise represented in this guideline will help improve outcomes for those affected by this challenging condition.”
KDIGO thanks the Guideline Work Group for their dedication and expertise and the Evidence Review Team from Brown University School of Public Health for their comprehensive work on this guideline.
For further details, visit the KDIGO Lupus Nephritis website or contact KDIGOCommunications@kdigo.org.