TY - JOUR
T1 - Association of plasma B lymphocyte stimulator levels and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus
AU - Petri, Michelle
AU - Stohl, William
AU - Chatham, Winn
AU - McCune, W. Joseph
AU - Chevrier, Marc
AU - Ryel, Jeff
AU - Recta, Virginia
AU - Zhong, John
AU - Freimuth, William
PY - 2008/8
Y1 - 2008/8
N2 - Objective. To determine the association of plasma B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) levels, immunosuppressive therapy, and other clinical parameters with disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods. Two hundred forty-five SLE patients were evaluated prospectively over a 2-year period at 4 centers. Assessments were performed every 3-6 months. Univariate analysis was used to determine the association among the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus: National Assessment (SELENA) version of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score, serum anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), and plasma BLyS levels. A multivariate repeated-measures model incorporating immunosuppressive therapy was utilized. Results. Ninety-two percent of the patients were female. Sixty-seven percent were white, 31% African American, and 2% Asian (all of these groups may include Hispanic). Mean values at baseline were as follows: age 41.5 years, disease duration 8.1 years, SELENA-SLEDAI 3.3 (median 2, range 0-18), BLyS 5.57 ng/ml, IgG 1,439 mg/dl, C3 104.4 mg/dl, and C4 21.3 mg/dl; among those positive for anti-dsDNA, the median titer was 1:40 (range 1:10-1:1,280). Univariate analysis showed that plasma BLyS levels were associated with anti-dsDNA titers (P = 0.0465) and SELENA-SLEDAI scores (P = 0.0002). In multivariate analyses, a greater increase in the SELENA-SLEDAI score from the previ-ous visit was associated with higher BLyS levels at the previous visit (P = 0.0042) and with a greater increase in the BLyS level from the previous visit (P = 0.0007). Conclusion. The findings of association between a greater increase in the BLyS level from the previous visit and a greater increase in the SELENA-SLEDAI score at the subsequent visit, and between an elevated BLyS level at the previous visit and a greater SELENA-SLEDAI score at the subsequent visit, demonstrate a relationship between circulating BLyS levels and SLE disease activity. These results lend support to the notion that BLyS is a candidate for therapeutic targeting in SLE.
AB - Objective. To determine the association of plasma B lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) levels, immunosuppressive therapy, and other clinical parameters with disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods. Two hundred forty-five SLE patients were evaluated prospectively over a 2-year period at 4 centers. Assessments were performed every 3-6 months. Univariate analysis was used to determine the association among the Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus: National Assessment (SELENA) version of the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score, serum anti-double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA), and plasma BLyS levels. A multivariate repeated-measures model incorporating immunosuppressive therapy was utilized. Results. Ninety-two percent of the patients were female. Sixty-seven percent were white, 31% African American, and 2% Asian (all of these groups may include Hispanic). Mean values at baseline were as follows: age 41.5 years, disease duration 8.1 years, SELENA-SLEDAI 3.3 (median 2, range 0-18), BLyS 5.57 ng/ml, IgG 1,439 mg/dl, C3 104.4 mg/dl, and C4 21.3 mg/dl; among those positive for anti-dsDNA, the median titer was 1:40 (range 1:10-1:1,280). Univariate analysis showed that plasma BLyS levels were associated with anti-dsDNA titers (P = 0.0465) and SELENA-SLEDAI scores (P = 0.0002). In multivariate analyses, a greater increase in the SELENA-SLEDAI score from the previ-ous visit was associated with higher BLyS levels at the previous visit (P = 0.0042) and with a greater increase in the BLyS level from the previous visit (P = 0.0007). Conclusion. The findings of association between a greater increase in the BLyS level from the previous visit and a greater increase in the SELENA-SLEDAI score at the subsequent visit, and between an elevated BLyS level at the previous visit and a greater SELENA-SLEDAI score at the subsequent visit, demonstrate a relationship between circulating BLyS levels and SLE disease activity. These results lend support to the notion that BLyS is a candidate for therapeutic targeting in SLE.
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U2 - 10.1002/art.23678
DO - 10.1002/art.23678
M3 - Article
C2 - 18668552
AN - SCOPUS:49449092839
SN - 2326-5191
VL - 58
SP - 2453
EP - 2459
JO - Arthritis and Rheumatology
JF - Arthritis and Rheumatology
IS - 8
ER -