Background/Purpose: Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a known complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), yet there is a lack of high-quality studies specifically focused on lupus nephritis (LN). This study aimed to assess the frequency of VTE in patients with LN and identify risk factors for its development.

Methods: We included patients with biopsy-proven LN from a prospective observational cohort followed between 1970 and 2024. The primary outcome, VTE occurring after the onset of LN, was monitored longitudinally, and the time to the first event was calculated. Time-dependent univariable and multivariable cause-specific Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify factors associated with the first VTE, with death considered a competing risk.

Results: A total of 324 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 34.2 years [IQR, 25.9, 43.0] at baseline (Table 1). The cohort was predominantly female (279 patients, 86.1%) and the majority of patients identified as White (184 patients, 57%). Over a long-term follow-up period of 9.9 years [IQR: 5.0–16.4], 30 patients (9.3%) developed at least one VTE, with a median time to the first event from LN onset of 4.3 years [IQR, 0.1, 14.1] (Figure 1). Most events were isolated (86.7%), including 19 deep vein thromboses (DVTs, 59.4%), 5 pulmonary embolisms (PEs), and 2 events involving other venous beds. In the multivariable model, the following factors were independently associated with the development of VTE: the SLEDAI-2K score (HR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.01–1.10) and proteinuria level (HR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.08–1.47) (Table 2).

Conclusion: VTE can complicate the course of LN at any stage, mostly manifesting as DVT and PE. Disease activity and proteinuria are the primary risk factors for its development.

« Back to ACR Convergence 2025

ACR Meeting Abstracts - https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/venous-thromboembolism-in-patients-with-lupus-nephritis-frequency-and-risk-factors-a-cohort-study/