Potential Biomarker for Lupus Nephritis Activity Identified

The urinary ferritin/creatinine ratio (UFCR) may be a biomarker for lupus nephritis (LN) kidney injury, according to findings from a new study. 

According to the researchers, they wanted to investigate the clinical significance of UFCR in LN because ferritin has gained attention in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

To evaluate the relationship, the researchers analyzed samples from 62 patients with SLE—of whom 35 had LN and 27 did not—as well as 62 healthy controls.

The participants with severe active SLE had significantly higher UFCR levels than the participants with inactive SLE or the healthy controls. UFCR level was also significantly higher among the participants with LN compared with the participants without LN.

According to correlation analysis, UFCR level is positively correlated with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index, 24-hour urine protein quantitation, serum creatinine, serum cystatin C, and glomerular filtration rate. 

After analyzing the kidney biopsies from 9 participants, the researchers also found that the UFCR levels were significantly positively correlated with the activity index, but not the chronicity index.

—Colleen Murphy

Reference:

Qi L, Xu J, Yang C, Hou X, Yang P. Urinary ferritin creatinine ratio, a potential biomarker for lupus nephritis activity. Clin Rheumatol. 2021;40(1):143-149. doi:10.1007/s10067-020-05214-0