The Euro-Lupus Nephritis Trial involves 31 European centers experienced in the management of the disease. The AIM of this controlled trial is to compare renal outcome and disease exacerbations of lupus nephritis patients given a long course versus a short course IV CPM regimen.
The study is planned for a 135 week-period but evaluation will require a longer follow-up period. The working hypothesis is that a short course IV CPM followed by AZA is equivalent to a long course IV CPM regarding the prevention of renal failure, with probably less side-effects in the short course IV CPM group.
Interestingly, this hypothesis might turn correct only in a subset of lupus nephritis patients. Identification of a less severe disease pattern within the spectrum of proliferative lupus nephritis that could be treated less aggressively would be a welcome step forward.