Nephritis remains an important cause of morbidity and mortality in many patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but knowledge of the factors contributing to the heterogeneity of kidney disease in these patients has been lacking. This article outlines various pathogenic pathways that contribute to renal damage in SLE and explains how disease phenotyping based on these mechanisms could lead to the novel and individualized therapies for patients with lupus nephritis.
