Lupus band test can be used in combination with anti-chromatin antibodies and complement analysis to predict transition from cutaneous to systemic lupus

Urinary soluble CD163 is useful as “liquid biopsy” marker in lupus nephritis at both diagnosis and follow-up to predict impending flares

“…The immunological panel for SLE-associated biomarkers included: (i) the complement fractions C3, C4 (Cobas 500 ® , Roche Diagnostics GmBH, Germany) and 50 % concentration haemolytic (CH50; SpaPlus ® , The Binding Site, Birmingham, UK); (ii) IgG anti-double stranded (ds)DNA and anti-chromatin Abs (Bioplex ® , Biorad, Hercules, CA); (iii) IgG anti-extractable nuclear (ENA) Abs against sicca syndrome (SS)A 52 kDa, SSA 60 kDa, SSB, Smith (Sm), Sm-ribonucleoprotein (RNP), RNP A, and RNP 68 kDa antigens (Bioplex ® ); (iv) IgG anti-ribosomal Abs (Bioplex ® ); (v) IgG anti-C1q Abs (Quanta-lite ® , Werfen, Barcellona, Spain); and (vi) the spot urinary sCD163 (ELLA ® , Bio-techne, Minneapolis, MN) that was evaluated together with proteinuria and creatinuria (Cobas 500 ® ) in order to express sCD163 as a ratio to creatinuria, proteinuria, or not as well as the ratio of urine protein excretion to creatinine or PCR [ [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] ]. Cut-offs were fixed as recommended by the providers (C3 low <0.72 g/L; C4 low <0.11 g/L, CH50 low <31 %; anti-dsDNA Abs ≥10 international units [IU]/mL, anti-ENA/-Ribosomal/-Chromatin Abs ≥1.0 arbitrary units [AU]mL, and anti-C1q Abs ≥20 AU/mL) with the exception of the normalized urinary sCD163/creatinuria ratio as no consensus existed.…”

Glucocorticoids selectively affect the memory T cell response to SARS-Cov2 spike in vaccinated and post-infected patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

“…Data regarding disease activity using a cut-off point ≥5 from the SLEDAI-2K score [ 11 ], clinical presentation, current treatment, number and time of covid-19 vaccine injections or infectious episodes were retrospectively collected from medical records. Laboratory data included lymphocyte count, albumin and gamma-globulin levels using serum protein electrophoresis, IgG anti-double stranded (ds)DNA and anti-chromatin Abs (Bioplex, Biorad, Hercules, CA), IgG anti-extractable nuclear Abs, antiphospholipid Abs such as anticardiolipin (aCL) and anti-beta2 glycoprotein I (aβ2-GPI) Abs, and the complement fractions C3, C4 and CH50 (The Binding Site, Birmingham, UK) [ [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] ].…”

SLE classification criteria: Science-based icons or algorithmic distractions – an intellectually demanding dilemma

“…One theoretical and logic approach would be studies of SLE cohorts exclusively defined as “hot SLE” defined as lupus nephritis induced by anti-dsDNA antibodies (see a discussion on the impact of anti-DNA antibodies in ( 45 , 71 , 72 )). An analogous approach could be to study a cohort defined solely by the butterfly exanthema with a positive lupus band test ( 73 , 74 ). The latter would be an interesting study also in an historical context since the history of SLE starts with the antique narrative of a serious cutaneous disease – the “lupus” (see aspects of the history of lupus in antiquity up to contemporary times ( 75 – 78 )).…”