- 1, Subjects of either sex, 14-65 years of age, 2, Diagnosis of SLE according to the ACR criteria (1997), 3, Renal biopsy within 6 months prior to randomization with a histological diagnosis (ISN/RPS 2003 classification of LN) class III, IV, V, III+V and IV+V [excluding Class III(C), IV-S(C), and IV-G(C)], 4, Class IV or IV+V LN: proteinuria ≥1g/24hr (or Urinary protein: creatinine ratio≥ 1.0) or Scr>1.3mg/dl, with active urinary sediment [> 5 RBCs/hpf or> 5 WBCs/hpf (or within the reference range of the laboratory) in absence of menses and genitourinary tract infection, or presence of cellular casts (RBC or WBC casts)], 5, Class III, III+V or V LN: proteinuria ≥2g/24hr (or Urinary protein: creatinine ratio ≥ 2.0) or Scr>1.3mg/dl, 6, Provision of written informed consent by subject or guardian.