Abstract
Thirty-two renal biopsy specimens from 22 patients with definite Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) and 5 patients with probable SLE were studied by electron microscopy. The renal specimens from 160 patients with other renal diseases were also examined for the comparative study. In all cases of definite SLE and probable SLE the microtubular structures (MTS) were found in the endothelial cells of both glomerular and peritubular capillaries. These structures were not observed in other 160 comparative cases. Among the 5 cases of probable SLE, two cases treated with low dose corticosteroid and azathioprine and one case without treatment progressed definite SLE within one to 14 months. The remaining 2 cases treated with high dose corticosteroid were clinically improved. According to the results, it is concluded that the presence of MTS is one of the important morphological findings for the diagnosis of the early stage of SLE. The treatment with high dose corticosteroid seems to be preferable in the case of probable SLE showing MTS.
