Background. Lupus nephritis (LN) can be complicated with requirement for kidney replacement therapy and death. Efficacy of induction therapies using mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) or intravenous cyclophosphamide (IVCYC) has been reported from studies, but there is limited data in Africans comparing both treatments in patients with proliferative LN. Methods. This was a retrospective study of patients with biopsy-proven proliferative LN diagnosed and treated with either MMF or IVCYC in a single centre in Cape Town, South Africa, over a 5-year period. *e primary outcome was attaining complete remission after completion of induction therapy. Results. Of the 84 patients included, mean age was 29.6 ± 10.4 years and there was a female preponderance (88.1%). At baseline, there were significant differences in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and presence of glomerular crescents between both groups (p ≤ 0.05). After completion of induction therapy, there was no significant difference in remission status (76.0% versus 87.5%; p = 0.33) or relapse status (8.1% versus 10.3%; p = 0.22) for the IVCYC and MMF groups, respectively. Mortality rate for the IVCYC group was 5.5 per 10,000 person-days of follow-up compared to 1.5 per 10,000 person-days of follow-up for the MMF group (p = 0.11), and there was no significant difference in infection-related adverse events between both groups. Estimated GFR at baseline was the only predictor of death (OR: 1.0 [0.9–1.0]; p = 0.001). Conclusion. This study shows similar outcomes following induction treatment with MMF or IVCYC in patients with biopsy-proven proliferative LN in South Africa. However, a prospective and randomized study is needed to adequately assess these outcomes.

The purpose of this study was to determine the views of nephrology nurses regarding pre-operative education prior to kidney transplant. The study was conducted in Nephrology Ward in King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Qualitative descriptive design was used. Purposive non-probability sampling was used until data saturation occurred. Target population were registered nurses working in the Nephrology Unit. Both male and female nurses aged between 25 and 59 years working for a period of at least one year in the Nephrology Unit were included in the study. Data saturation was reached after interviewing 15 nephrology nurses. Themes and categories emerged from adopting Creswell’s (2013) “data analysis spiral”. Some of the key findings were that pre-operative patient education is a multidisciplinary team approach and that psychosocial aspects of the patients should be taken into consideration before educating the patients. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations were also made from findings of this study. Ultimately, key recommendations were that there is a need to train and empower nurses in importance of delivering pre-operative education and that expatriate nurses have access to Arabic speakers to overcome language barriers while educating the patients / Health Studies / M.A. (Health Studies)