Urinary levels of RANTES and M-CSF are predictors of lupus nephritis flare.
OBJECTIVE
To explore a new predictor of renal flares after successful inductive treatment for diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis(DPGN) in patients with lupus nephritis.


METHODS
A cohort of patents with SLE DPGN who were treated initially with prednisone and cyclophosphamide were studied. Those who responded to inductive treatment were followed up for the occurrence of renal flares. Urinary levels of RANTES, MCP-1 and M-CSF were measured by ELISA. Other clinical and laboratory data were collected. The predictors and outcome of renal flare were analyzed.


RESULTS
Seventy-three qualified patients with SLE DPGN were investigated. After a mean follow-up of 24.5 +/- 6.4 months, 22 patients experienced renal flares. The median time to relapse was 14.1 +/- 4.1 months. The patients experiencing renal flare showed higher urinary RANTES, MCP-1 and M-CSF. However, independent predictors of renal flares were increased urinary RANTES and M-CSF. Eight patents developed doubling of the serum creatinine (CRX2) level. The occurrence of renal flares was the only predictor of CRX2.


CONCLUSIONS
Persistently increased urinary levels of RANTES and M-CSF after initial remission are predictors of renal flare in patients with SLE DPGN. Our results indicate monitoring urinary pro-inflammatory factors may direct us in managing those patients.
Department of Nephrology, Renmin Hospital of Yunyang Medical College, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei province, PR China. shaojiangt@yahoo.com.cn
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Tian
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Li
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Wang
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Liu
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Liu
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Cheng
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Deng
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Gou
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Wan
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Jia
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Chen
D000328:Adult; D018932:Chemokine CCL2 / Q000276:immunology / Q000652:urine; D018946:Chemokine CCL5 / Q000276:immunology / Q000652:urine*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000276:immunology / Q000652:urine*; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor / Q000276:immunology / Q000652:urine*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012008:Recurrence; D016019:Survival Analysis
C111835:CCL2 protein, human; D018932:Chemokine CCL2; D018946:Chemokine CCL5; D016173:Macrophage Colony-Stimulating Factor; D003404:Creatinine