Predicting lupus nephritis outcomes
Researchers have examined the predictive accuracy of a biomarker-based score in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
In a study published in The Journal of Rheumatology, the researchers assessed whether the urine biomarker-based score known as the Renal Activity Index for Lupus could predict kidney inflammation in 240 adult patients with lupus and active, biopsy-proven proliferative lupus nephritis compared with the urine protein/creatinine ratio, estimated glomerular filtration rate and adjusted RAIL index. They collected nearly 600 urine samples for a period of 52 weeks and calculated the RAIL index using creatinine-adjusted urine biomarkers such as neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, kidney injury molecule-1, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, adiponectin, hemopexin and ceruloplasmin.
The researchers found that the RAIL index, urine protein/creatinine ratio and estimated glomerular filtration rate improved throughout the study period and were lower among patients who had complete renal response compared with those who had no response. While the estimated glomerular filtration rate was inaccurate when predicting renal response, the RAIL index adjusted for baseline urine protein/creatinine ratio and estimated glomerular filtration rate values demonstrated good accuracy when predicting renal response.
The findings indicated that the adjusted RAIL index could help predict the course of lupus nephritis in this patient population.
Read more: The Journal of Rheumatology
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