Clinical significance of serum soluble scavenger receptor CD163 in patients with lupus nephritis.

Background: The soluble CD163 (sCD163) was elevated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

Purpose: To study whether serum sCD163 could be used to predict the occurrence and prognosis of lupus nephritis (LN).

Research design: The recruited patients were classified into different groups according to standard identification criteria.

Study sample: The patients with LN.

Data collection and analysis: 11 indices were analyzed and compared in SLE and LN patients. Furthermore, the level of serum sCD163 was detected using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Meanwhile, the receiver operating characteristic analysis was performed to evaluate the prediction effect of sCD163. Additionally, spearman correlation analysis of serum sCD163 with indices was conducted.

Results: There were six positive indices and one negative risk factor correlated to LN. sCD163 was elevated in LN patients and could be used to diagnose LN. Importantly, sCD163 was increased in LN patients with a heavy SLE disease activity index. Finally, it was revealed that the level of sCD163 was higher in the LN patients with no response than that with complete or partial response, which also could predict the prognosis of LN.

Conclusions: Serum sCD163 was elevated in LN patients than in SLE patients, which could be used to predict the occurrence and prognosis of LN.