Abstract
It has been widely accepted that systemic lupus erythematosus is one of the diseases in which necrotizing angitis is frequently observed. In the present study, necrotizing angitis was found in 6 of 25 autopsy cases but not found in any of 80 biopsy specimens of lupus nephritis. Clinical characteristics of those with necrotizing angitis are central nervous system involvement, abdominal pain with tarry stool, and rapidly progressive renal failre (RPRF) . Necrotizing angitis in kidney may cause RPRF, however, ther were many patients who showed RPRF with no evidence of histologically defined necrotizing angitis. The deposition of immunoglobulins and/or complements were frequently found in the vessel wall (of biopsy kidneys) . None of those with positive vascular immune deposit showed necrotizing angitis. The possibility raised is that there may be some factors causing angitis other than deposition of immune complexes into vessel wall.
