title: Anti-phospholipase A₂ receptor antibodies correlate with clinical status in idiopathic membranous nephropathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Circulating autoantibodies against the M-type phospholipase A(2) receptor (anti-PLA(2)R) were recently identified in the majority of patients in the United States with idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN). The objectives of this study were to assess the prevalence of anti-PLA(2)R in a separate, European cohort of iMN patients and to correlate the presence of anti-PLA(2)R with clinical parameters reflective of disease activity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anti-PLA(2)R levels were blindly assessed by a Western blot immunoassay in 54 serum samples from 18 patients with iMN collected in various stages of clinical disease. Anti-PLA(2)R levels were correlated with other clinical parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  77.8% of iMN patients in our cohort had antibodies reactive with human PLA(2)R. The antibody levels in these patients correlated strongly with both clinical status and proteinuria (r = 0.73, P < 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The role of PLA(2)R as a major antigen in iMN was confirmed in an independent, European patient cohort, and levels of circulating anti-PLA(2)R revealed a strong correlation with clinical disease activity. We propose that detection and measurement of these autoantibodies may provide a tool for monitoring of disease activity and treatment efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. J.Hofstra@nier.umcn.nl
authors.forename: Julia M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Hofstra
authors.forename: Laurence H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: David M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Beck
authors.forename: Jack F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Wetzels
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Salant
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D005260:Female; D015433:Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000276:immunology*; D054507:Receptors, Phospholipase A2 / Q000276:immunology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D054507:Receptors, Phospholipase A2