Table 4 How to differentiate between pre-eclampsia and flare of lupus nephritis in SLE patients (quoted with permission from [34])
| Â | Pre-eclampsia | Lupus nephritis |
|---|---|---|
Clinical | ||
| Â | - After 20 weeks of gestation | - Any time during pregnancy |
 - Blood pressure: Hypertension (BP: 140/90 mmHg) | - Present | - Variable |
 - Other organ affection | - Occasionally CNS | - Evidence of non-renal active lupus |
Laboratory investigations | ||
 Standard blood testing | ||
  - Platelets | - Low–normal | - Low–normal |
  - Creatinine | - Normal to raised | - Normal to raised |
  - Uric acid | - Elevated | - Normal |
 Immunology testing | ||
  - Complements | - Normal–low | - Low |
  - Anti dsDNA | - Absent or unchanged | - Rising titers |
 Urine testing | ||
  - Urinary sediment | - Inactive (uniform pattern, reflect renal damage, no correlation with clinical course) | - Active (urine sediment reflect lupus nephritis histopathlogy) |
  - 24-h urine calcium | - < 195mg/dl | - >195mg/dl |
Management: | ||
 Response to steroid therapy | No response | Good response |