Lupus nephritis is a common and serious complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). It often requires aggressive immunosuppressive therapy. Although majority of patients with severe lupus nephritis achieve a complete or partial remission after 6-month induction treatment, renal flares can still occur during maintenance therapy. Whether patients with mild proteinuric flares should receive intensive immunosuppressive therapy is unclear. In pathogenesis of SLE, T-cell dysfunction is attributed to the activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Previous prospective and retrospective studies in SLE or lupus nephritis showed the effect of mTOR blockade on systemic disease activity index or severe lupus nephritis as initial or maintenance therapy.~Eligible subjects with biopsy-proven Class III/IV±V lupus nephritis(ISN/RPS 2003) are received oral sirolimus without change previous immunosuppressive therapy. We follow up the included patients at Week 2, Week 4, Week6, Week 8 and Week 12 regularly.~The investigator will actively detect and inquire about the occurrence of adverse events (AEs)/ severe adverse events (SAEs) at every visit/ contact during the study. The clinical trials insurance is prepaid by sponsor to cover the design risks of the protocol and liability/ compensation to the research subject for bodily injury or death resulting from their participation in the trial.
This a single-centre, one-arm, open-label pilot study. Eligible patients with mild proteinuric flares of lupus nephritis Class III/IV±V are received sirolimus without changing previous immunosuppressive medication during 12-week follow-up.~Primary Objective:~To investigate the efficacy of sirolimus for mild proteinuric flares in patients with Class III/IV±V lupus nephritis~Secondary Objective:~To assess the safety and tolerability of sirolimus treatment for mild proteinuric flares in patients with Class III/IV±V lupus nephritis