Serum ferritin level as a marker of disease activity and renal involvement in Egyptian children with juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus

Introduction

Ferritin is an acute-phase reactant that is elevated in several autoimmune disorders. Serum ferritin levels have been correlated with disease activity scores of juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE). Furthermore, enhanced levels of ferritin have also been described in lupus nephritis (LN).

Aim of the work

To evaluate serum ferritin as a cheap and available marker of disease activity and renal involvement in Egyptian children with JSLE.

Patients and methods

Forty-eight JSLE cases recruited from the Pediatric Rheumatology Clinic in Cairo University Specialized Children’s Hospital and 43 matched healthy children were enrolled in the study. SLE disease activity score-2000 (SLEDAI-2K) and renal activity score were assessed. Serum levels of ferritin, was quantified by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

The mean age of the patients was 12.6?±?3.02?years and disease duration 3.4?±?2.5?years. Serum ferritin significantly higher in patients (416.1?±?1022.9?ng/ml) compared with control (36.1?±?18.2?ng/ml) (p?

Conclusion

Serum ferritin level can be considered a reliable biomarker for monitoring disease and renal activity in children with JSLE and LN. This may lead to improvement of management and consequently prognosis of JSLE patients as serum ferritin is an available and relatively cheap marker.