Serum immunoglobulin levels in systemic lupus erythematosus: the effects of age, sex, race and disease duration

To determine whether factors other than disease activity influence immunoglobulin levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the effect of age, sex, race, and duration of disease on serum IgG and IgM levels in 170 patients with SLE were investigated. Serum IgM and IgG levels did not differ between men and women, while IgM levels were higher in whites. Serum IgG levels did not vary with age or duration of SLE. In contrast, serum IgM levels were negatively correlated with both age (r = -0.236; p = 0.002) and duration of SLE (r = 0.248; p = 0.001), and demonstrated a U-shaped age relationship, being higher in children and older patients. These patterns of immunoglobulin expression in patients with SLE contrast with those exhibited in populations of healthy individuals, suggesting that the immunoregulatory disturbances of SLE predominate over the normal mechanisms regulating levels of IgM and IgG.     

血清表面活性蛋白与系统性红斑狼疮合并间质性肺病的相关性研究

目的 探讨血清表面活性蛋白A(SP-A)和D(SP-D)与系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)合并间质性肺病(ILD)的相关性及其临床意义.方法 采用双抗体夹心酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测,并比较SLE组和对照组血清样本SP-A和SP-D水平的差异,分析其与SLE合并ILD的关系,判断与肺部高分辨率CT(HRCT)评分、肺功能、年龄、病情活动指标之间的相关性.结果 SLE组患者血清SP-A和SP-D水平高于健康对照组(P＜0.05).SLE组并发ILD患者血清SP-A和SP-D水平高于未合并ILD者以及对照组(P＜0.05).合并ILD的SLE患者血清SP-D水平与HRCT磨玻璃影评分(r=0.508,P=0.004)和间质病变评分(r=0.468,P=0.009)呈正相关关系,与肺活量(%VC)(r=-0.590,P=0.001)和一氧化碳弥散量(%DLCO)(r=-0.588,P＜0.01)呈负相关关系,而SP-A与上述指标无明显相关.SLE患者血清SP-D水平与年龄呈正相关关系(r=0.352,P=0.001).SLE-ILD组血清SP-D水平与血清IsG(r=0.376,P=0.040)呈正相关关系,SP-A水平与C反应蛋白(CRP)(r=0.403,P=0.027)呈正相关关系.结论 SP-D和SP-A是SLE并发ILD的血清学标志,SP-D与患者的HRCT评分、肺功能指标、年龄和病情活动度相关.     

Splenic platelet kinetics in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

The splenic blood flow, intrasplenic platelet kinetics and spleen size were determined in 8 females with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), all without signs of active disease, by using gamma-camera scintigraphy with 111In-labelled platelets and 99mTc-stannous colloid. The results for splenic blood flow, intrasplenic platelet transit time and splenic platelet pool size, obtained by compartmental analysis of the initial distribution of radiolabelled platelets between blood and spleen, did not differ from those of a control group. In all SLE patients the spleen size was within normal limits. There was a significant relationship between the spleen volume and the splenic platelet pool size (r = 0.75; p less than 0.05), and between the spleen volume and splenic blood flow (r = 0.76; p less than 0.05). A borderline, inverse correlation was present between an estimate of splenic perfusion and intrasplenic platelet transit time (r = 0.62; p = 0.1). It is concluded that the splenic function, measured as splenic blood flow and intrasplenic platelet kinetics, is not disturbed in SLE patients without active disease.     

系统性红斑狼疮患者血浆骨桥蛋白水平与疾病活动性及脏器损害的相关性研究

目的 检测系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者血浆中骨桥蛋白(OPN)的水平,分析其与SLE活动性及脏器损害间的关系.方法 选择68例SLE患者和36名健康体检者,采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测其血浆中的OPN水平.记录采血时患者的系统性红斑狼疮疾病活动指数(SLEDAI)、实验室指标等.结果 SLE患者OPN血浆水平明显高于正常对照组[(4.5±2.0)ng/ml与(1.6±0.7)ng/ml,P＜0.01 ].SLE疾病活动组高于非活动组[(5.3±2.0)ng/ml与(3.4±1.3)ng/ml,P＜0.01];SLE患者伴有肾脏损害组高于无肾脏损害组[(5.8±2.1)ng/ml与(3.5±1.3)ng/ml,P＜0.01],有肺间质病变、胃肠道病变和心包炎的高于无脏器损害[(4.8±1.2)、(6.3±1.4)、(5.4±2.6)ng/ml与(3.5+1.3)ng/ml,P＜0.05],抗心磷脂抗体阳性患者OPN水平高于抗心磷脂抗体阴性患者[(5.3±2.4)ng/ml与(4.2±1.7)ng/ml,P＜0.05].OPN血浆水平与SLEDAI呈正相关(r=0.523,P＜0.01),与尿蛋白定量(24 h)呈正相关r=0.403,P=0.001),与补体C3呈负相关r=-0.398,P=0.001),与红细胞沉降率(ESR)、抗dsDNA抗体、抗Sm抗体、IgG、IgA、IgM、球蛋白及关节炎等无相关性(P＞0.05) .结论 OPN可能参与SLE的发病,临床上可作为疾病活动及脏器损伤的观察指标.     

系统性红斑狼疮患者血清卵泡抑素样蛋白1表达水平及其临床意义

目的 检测系统性红斑狼疮(SLE)患者血清中卵泡抑素样蛋白1(FSTL1)的水平及FSTL1在狼疮肾炎肾脏组织中的表达,探讨其在SLE疾病中的临床意义.方法 酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)法检测54例SLE患者及27名健康对照组血清FSTL1水平.免疫组织化学染色检测狼疮肾炎患者肾脏组织及健康者肾脏组织中FSTL1的表达情况.采用Mann-WhitneyU/检验、t检验、X2检验及Pearson检验进行统计分析.结果 SLE组FSTL1血清水平(26±21) μg/L显著高于健康对照组(12±14) μg/L(P＜0.01);SLE高血压组明显高于非高血压组(P＜0.01);SLE病程≥5年组与病程＜5年组之间差异有统计学意义(P＜0.01);血清FSTL1表达水平与SLE疾病活动指数(SLEDAI)评分(r=0.319,P=0.022)、年龄(r=0.700,P＜0.01)、病程(r=0.513,P＜0.01)、补体C4 (r=0.443,P=0.004)、总胆固醇(r=0.460,P=0.001)呈正相关;与血小板计数(r=-0.422,P=0.001)、抗双链DNA(dsDNA)抗体水平(r=--0.276,P=0.046)呈负相关.FSTL1主要表达在肾小管上皮细胞胞质内.结论 FSTL1在SLE患者血清中明显升高,且与疾病活动性有关.提示FSTL1在SLE发病机制中起一定作用.     

Serum and urinary free microRNA level in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

MicroRNAs circulating in body fluid have been suggested as biomarkers of various diseases. We studied the serum and urinary level of several miRNA species (miR-200 family, miR-205 and miR-192) in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We studied 40 SLE patients. Serum and urinary miRNA levels were determined and compared with that of healthy controls. The serum levels of miR-200a, miR-200b, miR-200c, miR-429, miR-205 and miR-192, and urinary miR-200a, miR-200c, miR-141, miR-429 and miR-192 of SLE patients were lower than those of controls. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) correlated with serum miR-200b (r = 0.411, p = 0.008), miR-200c (r = 0.343, p = 0.030), miR-429 (r = 0.347, p = 0.028), miR-205 (r?=?0.429, p?=?0.006) and miR-192 (r = 0.479, p = 0.002); proteinuria inversely correlated with serum miR-200a (r?=?-0.375, p?=?0.017) and miR-200c (r =?-0.347, p =?0.029). SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) inversely correlated with serum miR-200a (r?=?-0.376, p?=?0.017). Serum miR-200b (r = 0.455, p = 0.003) and miR-192 (r?=?0.589, p?相似文献   

Significance of anti-entactin antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and related disorders.

OBJECTIVES--To further evaluate the association of anti-entactin antibodies with clinical manifestations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and related disorders. METHODS--Sera were analysed for anti-entactin antibodies from 79 patients with SLE, 38 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 20 patients with progressive systemic sclerosis and five with Behçet's syndrome. Sera from 150 healthy blood donors and 20 patients with pneumonia were analysed as controls. To study the association of anti-entactin antibodies with severity and activity in SLE, 30 patients were assigned into three groups with 10 patients in each: (1) with mild manifestations; (2) severe disease without renal involvement and (3) frank lupus nephritis. Two blood samples from each patient were analysed, one from the active and the other from the inactive phase of the disease. Additionally, serial sera from 12 patients with SLE were also analysed. RESULTS--Thirty one patients with SLE (39%) had IgG, IgM or both anti-entactin antibodies. Twenty three of these patients (29%) had biopsy verified glomerulonephritis and 12 (50%) were positive for anti-entactin antibodies. Of the remaining 56 patients without apparent renal involvement, 18 (36%) were positive for anti-entactin antibodies. (chi squared = 2.77, p > 0.05). With the exception of rheumatoid arthritis where six patients (24%) had IgM anti-entactin antibodies, the antibodies were present much less frequently in other diseases (two patients with systemic vasculitis whilst none of the patients with PSS or Behçet's syndrome). Only one patient with pneumonia and none of the 150 sera from healthy blood donors had anti-entactin antibodies. Among Group 1, three (30%) were positive for IgG or IgM anti-entactin antibodies. Six (60%) patients in group 2, and five patients (50%) in group 3 were positive for anti-entactin antibodies. However, the difference between the presence of anti-entactin antibodies between group 1 and 2 or between group 1 and 3 was not significant (p = 0.15 and 0.19 respectively). There was no significant correlation between the titres of anti-entactin antibodies and total serum concentration of IgG (r = 0.141, p > 0.10) and IgM. (r = 0.130, p > 0.10). Furthermore, no significant correlation was observed between SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) scores and the titres of IgG (r = 0.067, p > 0.10) or IgM (r = -0.033, p > 0.10) anti-entactin antibodies. CONCLUSION--The study demonstrates that anti-entactin antibodies are present in a significant number of patients with SLE and tend to be more common in those with severe disease, with or without nephritis, than in patients with mild disease manifestations. There is no correlation between the titre of anti-entactin antibodies and severity or activity of SLE.     

Development of selective igm deficiency in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with disease of long duration

Statistical analysis of serum immunoglobulin levels in 54 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients showed a decrease in serum IgM (normal 77 ± 26 mg/dl; P < 0.001) that was closely related to disease duration. The longer the duration of SLE, the more striking the decrease in serum levels of IgM (r = −0.74, P<0.01). Selective IgM deficiency (<47 mg/dl) occurred in SLE patients whose disease was clinically inactive or less active.     

Differentiation of autoimmune thrombocytopenia from thrombocytopenia associated with immune complex disease: systemic lupus erythematosus, hepatitis-cirrhosis, and HIV-1 infection by platelet and serum immunological measurements

A method and approach are described to differentiate classic autoimmune thrombocytopenia (ATP) from immune complex-associated thrombocytopenia in systemic lupus (SLE), hepatitis/chronic liver disease (LIV-ITP) and HIV-1 related thrombocytopenia (HIV-1-ITP). The platelet immunologic profile of IgG, C3C4 and IgM was measured with a solid-phase ELISA, employing 125I-staphylococcal protein A to detect indicator antibody binding. Polyethylene glycol was employed to precipitate immune complexes (PEG-IC). Platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG) was 2.8-, 5.6- and 5.8-fold higher in SLE, LIV-ITP and HIV-1-ITP patients respectively compared to ATP patients: platelet C3C4 was 3.2-, 4.8- and 4.5-fold higher respectively; platelet IgM was 2.2-, 3.7- and 3.8-fold higher respectively; serum PEG-IC levels were 4.2-, 4.8- and 2.1-fold higher respectively. With all parameters measured, there was no overlap between the 75th percentile for ATP patients and the 25th percentile for all three cohorts. The likelihood of having a platelet C3C4 level higher than the highest ATP level was 69% for SLE, 90% for LIV-ITP and 94% for HIV-1-ITP respectively; with PEG-IC measurements the likelihood was 83%, 100% and 100% respectively. Serum IgG, C3, C4, IgM and PEG-IC were examined for a possible relationship with platelet measurements. Except for a positive correlation between serum and platelet IgM in ATP, r = 0.5, P < 0.04, there was no positive correlation with any of the parameters measured. An inverse correlation was noted between PEG-IC level and platelet C3C4 in SLE, r = 0.7, P < 0.04. Thus platelet immunologic profile and serum PEG-IC level measurements differentiated classic ATP from immune complex-associated thrombocytopenias (SLE, LIV-ITP, HIV-1-ITP). Except for IgM measurements in ATP, platelet measurements could not be attributed to their respective serum concentration.     

系统性红斑狼疮血脂异常患者的免疫功能

目的探讨系统性红斑狼疮患者的免疫功能对血脂水平的影响。方法以抗心磷脂抗体和T淋巴细胞亚群计数为切入点,观察149例系统性红斑狼疮患者的免疫功能与血脂水平,主要为高密度脂蛋白胆固醇、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇和甘油三酯水平的关系。结果高密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平与抗心磷脂抗体呈显著负相关(r=-0.448,P=0.005),低密度脂蛋白胆固醇水平与补体C4水平呈显著正相关(r=0.427,P=0.007)。结论系统性红斑狼疮患者的体液免疫功能异常可能影响其血脂水平。     

Serum thrombomodulin and anticardiolipin antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Since thrombomodulin (TM) is a specific cell surface glycoprotein for vascular endothelial cells, serum TM (s-TM) might be a useful marker of endothelial cell damage. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) frequently detected in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have been associated with vascular occlusive diseases. Therefore we measured the s-TM in 60 patients with SLE, in 23 patients with other diseases including aPL (disease control group) and in 26 healthy subjects, by means of an enzyme immunoassay using monoclonal antibodies to human TM. A significant positive correlation was found between s-TM and serum creatinine levels in SLE patients (r = 0.813, p less than 0.001). When the s-TM level was divided by the serum creatinine level (TM/Cr) to exclude the effect of renal clearance, the TM/Cr ratios were significantly increased in SLE patients with active lupus nephritis (LN) compared to those without LN (p less than 0.05). The ratios did not correlate with the presence of aPL or antiphospholipid antibody syndrome (APLS) in SLE patients or in the disease control group, although a weak correlation between the TM/Cr ratios and IgG-anticardiolipin antibody titers was found in the SLE patients without LN (r = 0.449, p less than 0.01). The present results suggest that elevated TM/Cr ratios reflect renal and possibly extra-renal endothelial cell damage in SLE patients with active LN, but that s-TM levels do not associate with the presence of aPL or a history of APLS.     

Normalization of serum-free light chains in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus upon rituximab treatment and correlation with biological disease activity

Increased free light chain (FLC) levels have been reported as useful in various autoimmune conditions. We investigated how FLC concentrations change upon B cell targeted therapy in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and if they correlate with disease activity. We retrospectively studied 11 SLE patients without renal failure, whom were treated with rituximab. Quantitative determination of IgG, IgA, IgM, and serum FLC was performed before and after rituximab. At baseline, 70% had abnormal serum FLC levels, including increased kappa and lambda levels, while the kappa/lambda ratio was normal for all. A strong correlation was observed between complement C3 fraction and kappa levels (r = -0.929, P < 0.001) or lambda levels (r = -0.854, P = 0.003), but not with IgG, IgA, or IgM levels. After rituximab treatment, kappa and lambda FLC concentrations decreased significantly whilst total concentrations of IgG, IgA, and IgM also decreased but remained within the normal range. There was a strong correlation only between kappa FLC levels and complement C3 fraction consumption (r = -0.543, P = 0.003). In SLE patients without renal failure, increased FLC levels (mainly kappa) with normal kappa/lambda ratios are a common feature, and in contrast to total IgG levels, FLC concentrations correlate with biological disease activity.     

Relationship between urinary sialylated saccharides, serum amyloid A protein, and C-reactive protein in rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus.

The urinary excretion of sialic-acid-containing oligosaccharides, total sialic acid, serum amyloid A protein (SAA), and C-reactive protein (CRP) has been studied in 48 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in 17 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Linear regression analysis revealed a close positive correlation between serum SAA and CRP levels in both RA (r = 0.71, p less than 0.001) and SLE (r = 0.86, p less than 0.001). The urinary excretion of sialyl lactose showed a positive correlation with the serum levels of SAA and CRP in RA (r = 0.45 and r = 0.45, respectively, p less than 0.01) but not in SLE (r = 0.05 and r = 0.10 respectively). Changes in serum total sialic acid levels paralleled those in CRP and SAA in RA as well as in SLE. Patients with very active RA had higher urinary sialyl oligosaccharide excretion (p less than 0.001), higher CRP levels (p less than 0.01), and higher SAA levels ( p less than 0.05) than those with moderately active disease.     

Spontaneous in vitro production of anti-DNA and anti-RNA by systemic lupus erythematosus and normal peripheral blood mononuclear cells

The spontaneous in vitro production of anti-DNA and anti-RNA by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and from normal subjects was evaluated employing sensitive solid-phase assays that are specific for these antibodies. PBMC from SLE patients produced more IgG anti-DNA and anti-RNA than did normal PBMC (P less than 0.01). In vitro production of IgG anti-DNA appeared to correlate with serum DNA bindings (r = 0.72, P less than 0.005). Similar amounts of IgM anti-DNA and anti-RNA were produced by both SLE and normal PBMC. However, IgM anti-DNA antibodies always appeared to be directed against determinants on denatured DNA. Only PBMC from SLE patients produced IgG antibodies to native DNA.     

Antiprolactin autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus: frequency and correlation with prolactinemia and disease activity

OBJECTIVE: To determine in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (1) the frequency of antiprolactin (anti-PRL) autoantibodies, and (2) the relationships among anti-PRL autoantibodies, serum prolactin (PRL) levels, and lupus activity. METHODS: In a cross sectional study 259 consecutive patients with SLE were tested for serum PRL levels and anti-PRL autoantibodies based on disease activity. RESULTS: The frequency of anti-PRL was 5% (13/259), and all SLE patients with anti-PRL had hyperprolactinemia. There was lupus activity in 110 patients (42.5%) and there was no significant difference in frequency of anti-PRL autoantibodies between patients with or without lupus activity (5.5 vs 4.7%; p = 0.99). Only a high level of serum PRL was associated with lupus activity independent from other studied variables (p = 0.024). There was a negative but nonsignificant correlation between the titers of anti-PRL autoantibody and SLEDAI (r(s) = -0.16, p = 0.59). Anti-PRL positive patients had higher levels of serum PRL than anti-PRL negative patients (33.2+/-13.8 vs 11.6+/-13.2 ng/ml; p = 0.0001) and a significantly different frequency of hyperprolactinemia (100 vs 11.4%; p = 0.00001). CONCLUSION: The presence of anti-PRL autoantibodies was associated with hyperprolactinemic status and high serum PRL levels; these data suggest that anti-PRL autoantibodies could be the cause of hyperprolactinemia in a subset of patients with SLE. An increase in serum PRL levels proved to be an important independent factor related to lupus activity, but there was no relationship between anti-PRL autoantibodies and lupus activity.     

Heart valve calcification in young patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a window to premature atherosclerotic vascular morbidity and a risk factor for all-cause mortality

The objective of the study was to evaluate the association between heart valve calcification and atherosclerosis and outcome in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). One-hundred and seven patients with SLE (mean age 45.9 +/- 14.7 years) were studied by 2D transthoracic echocardiography. Mitral annulus calcification (MAC) was detected in 24 patients (22.6%) and aortic valve calcification (AVC) in 22 (20.1%). Both MAC and AVC were associated with older age (r = 0.2, p = 0.02; r = 0.40, p 相似文献   

Increased immunoglobulin-secreting cells in the blood of patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus

Peripheral blood lymphoid cells actively secreting immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin A (IgA) and immunoglobulin M (IgM) were quantitated in 24 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and compared with the frequency of such immunoglobulin secreting cells (IgSC) in normal controls utilizing a reverse hemolytic plaque assay. The geometric mean frequency of IgG-secreting cells in the patients with SLE was $\text{489}\text{10}{}_6$ peripheral blood mononuclear cells which was significantly higher (p < 0.005) than the mean control value of 137. The mean frequency of IgA-secreting cells in the patients with SLE was $\text{293}\text{10}{}_6$ cells which was also significantly higher (p < 0.01) than the mean of 96 in the control group. IgM-secreting cells were present in normal frequency in the patients with SLE (53 versus $\text{66}\text{10}{}^6$ in controls). The 24 patients were ranked in order of disease activity, and correlation coefficients were calculated comparing disease activity with laboratory findings including white blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, third component of complement (C3) levels, immunoglobulin levels, anti-DNA antibody concentrations and the frequency of IgSC. Disease activity had a significant positive correlation with the serum levels of IgG (p < 0.001) and IgM (< 0.01), and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (< 0.01), and had a significant negative correlation with serum C3 levels (p < 0.01). There was a highly significant correlation between disease activity and the level of anti-DNA antibody (r = 0.711, p < 10^?5) but the highest correlation with disease activity found was the frequency of IgG-secreting cells in the blood of the patient with SLE (r = 0.777, p < 10^?6). These data demonstrate that SLE is associated with increased numbers of IgG- and IgA-secreting cells in the peripheral blood and that increases in these parameters are closely associated with active clinical disease.     

Tumor necrosis factor induced adhesion molecule serum concentrations in Henoch-Schönlein purpura and pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE: Animal models of immune complex mediated tissue injury have shown that tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and TNF induced adhesion molecules play an important role in the pathogenesis of tissue damage mediated by IgG, but not in that mediated by IgA, immune complexes. We compared possible differences in the behavior of 2 TNF induced adhesion molecules (VCAM-1 and ICAM-1) in Henoch-Sch?nlein purpura (HSP), which is characterized by the formation of IgA immune complexes, versus systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is mostly associated with the vascular deposition of IgG immune complexes. METHODS: Serum concentrations of soluble (s)VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 were determined by ELISA methods in 20 patients with pediatric SLE showing variably active disease, 20 active patients with active HSP, and 19 healthy controls. TNF-alpha as well as p55 and p75 soluble receptors (sTNF-R) were simultaneously tested by enzyme amplified sensitivity immunoassay in 22 patients (12 SLE, 10 HSP). RESULTS: Serum sVCAM-1 concentration was significantly higher in patients with SLE (mean +/- SD, 608 +/- 76 ng/ml), than in patients with HSP (501.9 +/- 63.3 ng/ml) and controls (446.8 +/- 139.2 ng/ml) (p < 0.001). In SLE patients, sVCAM-1 correlated positively with ESR (r = 0.45, p = 0.02) and negatively with C4 serum levels (r = -0.57, p = 0.004), platelets (r = -0.38, p = 0.03), and lymphocyte count (r = -0.42, p = 0.03). No differences in sICAM-1 serum concentrations were detected among SLE, HSP, or control groups. Soluble VCAM, but not sICAM-1, showed a positive correlation with TNF-alpha (r = 0.71, p = 0.01), p55 (r = 0.63, p = 0.02), and p75 (r = 0.7, p = 0.01) sTNF-R serum concentrations in SLE, but not in patients with HSP. CONCLUSION: Our study provides additional evidence of a possible differential involvement of TNF and TNF induced adhesion molecules in the pathogenesis of tissue damage between pediatric SLE and HSP.     

Antinucleosome antibodies as a potential biomarker for the evaluation of renal pathological activity in patients with proliferative lupus nephritis

The objective of this study is to evaluate the correlation between antinucleosome antibodies and renal pathological activity in patients with proliferative lupus nephritis (LN). We evaluated 36 patients with proliferative LN, 14 non-renal lupus patients and 10 healthy volunteers. Lupus activity was assessed using the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group 2004 (BILAG 2004) index, serum anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) levels, serum complement levels and daily urinary protein levels. All 36 lupus nephritis patients received renal biopsy. Antinucleosome antibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our results showed that levels of serum antinucleosome antibodies were significantly higher in LN patients (median 90.35 units/ml, interquartile range [IQR] 37.38-135.23) than in non-renal SLE patients (median 5.45 units/ml, IQR 2.6-28.93, p <0.05) and in healthy volunteers (median 3.35 units/ml, IQR 2.95-5.23, p <0.001). Serum levels of antinucleosome antibodies were positively correlated with BILAG index (Spearman's r = 0.645, p <0.001) and serum anti-dsDNA antibody levels (r(s) = 0.644, p <0.01), while serum levels of antinucleosome antibodies were negatively correlated with serum levels of C3 (r(s) = -0.400, p <0.01) and C4 (r(s) = -0.300, p <0.05). Serum levels of antinucleosome antibodies were positively correlated with the histological activity index of LN (r(s) = 0.368, p <0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between serum levels of antinucleosome antibodies and the histological chronicity index. In conclusion, the serum level of antinucleosome antibodies is a potential biomarker for early recognition of renal involvement and evaluation of disease activity in SLE. Our preliminary results suggested that serum levels of antinucleosome antibodies might be a potential biomarker in evaluating pathological activity of LN.     

High Neutrophil-lymphocyte Ratio Predicts Serious Renal Insufficiency in Patients with Lupus Nephritis

Background: Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).The neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a promising predictor and prognostic factor. An increased NLR is associated with a poor prognosis of several inflammatory diseases. Objective: To evaluate the value of NLR in the diagnosis and pre-assessment of the disease severity of LN. Methods: This retrospective study included 88 patients with LN, 51 SLE patients without kidney involvement, 79 patients with primary chronic nephritis (CN), and 52 healthy controls (HC). The differences among these four groups and diagnostic value of NLR for patients with LN were evaluated. Results: The NLR of patients with LN before treatment was significantly higher than that of the other three groups. NLR positively correlated with C-reactive protein (CRP), complement 3(C3), C4, and serum creatinine (SCr) (CRP: r=0.337, p=0.007; C3: r=0.222, p=0.042; C4: r=0.230, p=0.035; SCr: r=0.408, p <0.0001) but negatively correlated with total serum IgG (r=-0.226, p=0.041). The level of NLR increased with the severity of renal dysfunction NLR (area under the curve: 0.785, 95% CI: 0.708-0.862) was useful for the diagnosis of LN, and its optimal cut-off value was 5.44 (sensitivity: 65.9%, specificity: 86.3%). Conclusions: NLR would be useful for the diagnosis of LN and reflects the severity of renal dysfunction Therefore, evaluating NLR before treatment could help clinicians to identify potential renal involvement in patients with SLE and distinguish LN from CN.