Which type of glomerulonephritis is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus?

Immune complex glomerulonephritis is the type of glomerulonephritis that is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In SLE, the immune system incorrectly produces antibodies against the body’s own tissues, leading to the formation of immune complexes. These immune complexes can deposit in various tissues, including the kidneys, resulting in inflammation and damage to the glomeruli.

In lupus nephritis, which is the renal manifestation of SLE, the presence of these deposited immune complexes causes a type of glomerular damage characterized by an inflammatory response. Histologically, this often presents as diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis, which is a specific subtype of immune complex glomerulonephritis commonly observed in SLE patients.

Minimal change disease and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis are less commonly associated with SLE and have different pathophysiological mechanisms. Diabetic nephropathy is primarily related to longstanding diabetes mellitus and is not associated with SLE. Understanding these associations helps in clinical diagnosis and management of renal involvement in systemic diseases such as SLE.