Markers of childhood lupus nephritis indicating disease activity

Abstract

Current treatment regimens for childhood lupus nephritis (LN) are associated with significant side-effects and toxicity in vulnerable phases of growth and development. The paucity of biomarkers particularly in childhood impedes the appropriate clinical management and the development of new therapeutics. We analyzed markers of immune system (BAFF, RANTES), complement (Bb, C1q, C3d-CIC, C5a) and endothelial cell activation (sVCAM-1) in children with LN (n∈=∈22, mean age 14.8∈±∈4.7 years), nephrotic syndrome (n∈=∈13) and age-matched healthy controls (n∈=∈20) to define parameters that correlate with LN activity. Complement fragments of the alternative (Bb, p∈=∈0.0004) classical (C3d-CIC, p∈