title: Biomarkers for lupus nephritis: the quest continues.
abstract: Current treatment of severe lupus nephritis is unsatisfactory in terms of both outcome and toxicity. To improve the efficacy and decrease the adverse effects of immunosuppression, it would be ideal to be able to predict the course and pathology of lupus nephritis and adjust therapy appropriately. This will require biomarkers that reflect disease activity. Recently, significant effort has been put into identifying biomarkers that can anticipate impending lupus renal flare, forecast development of chronic kidney disease, or reflect kidney histology at the time of flare. Although these biomarkers are potentially useful, to date none has been clinically validated in a large, prospective cohort of patients with SLE. This article reviews the current status of lupus nephritis biomarker investigation and articulates a perspective of how future efforts should be focused.
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Ohio State University College of Medicine, 395 W. 12th Avenue, Ground Floor, Columbus, OH 43210, USA. Rovin.1@osu.edu
authors.forename: Brad H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Rovin
authors.forename: Xiaolan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D051437:Renal Insufficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers