Abstract: Systemic lupus erythematosus （SLE） is a chronic autoimmune renal disease with multisystem involvement and multiple autoantibody presenting. The SLE classification criteria have been updated several times from 1971 to 2019 for new findings of clinical manifestations and laboratory parameters. Though not clinical diagnostic criteria, the specificity and sensitivity of the new classification criteria have improved after revision. It is worth noting that the classification value of renal histopathology to SLE has been neglected previously many times. However, in recent years it has regained the attention of experts. Due to a lack of global consensus on the pathology of lupus nephritis （LN）, renal biopsy standards are currently questioned. ‘Lupus-like’ pathologic features and recent advances were summarized for diagnosing LN.