Glomerular disease with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is common, and lupus nephritis can have many morphologic manifestations as seen on renal biopsy. In general, the more immune complex deposition and the more cellular proliferation, the worse the disease. In this case, there is extensive immune complex deposition in the thickened glomerular capillary loops, giving a so-called wire loop appearance.

Characteristic urinalysis findings are shown below.



Macroscopic Urinalysis:

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Leukocyte esterase
Nitrite
pH
Protein
Blood
Specific gravity
Ketones
Glucose
Bilirubin
CharacteristicResult
ColorYellow
AppearanceCloudy
Leukocyte EsteraseTr
NitriteNeg
pH6.0
Protein3+
Blood2+
Specific Gravity1.020
KetonesNeg
GlucoseNeg
BilirubinNeg

Microscopic Urinalysis:

CharacteristicResult
WBC/hpf 5-10/hpf
RBC/hpf 5-10/hpf
Casts Many hyaline, WBC, RBC, granular casts
Other Mucus, renal tubular cells