Do you hospitalize patients with newly diagnosed lupus nephritis and nephrotic syndrome if you are able to provide pulse steroids outpatient and follow them closely?  

Usually not. I suspect it all depends upon one's ancillary support situation. We are able to do in-house labs, give immediate in-house IV pulse steroids, and I can call interventional radiology and get an ASAP renal biopsy. If there were complications, such as infection, thrombosis, need for dialy...