title: Correlation of serum level of high mobility group box 1 with the burden of granulomatous inflammation in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the correlation of serum levels of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) with the extent of granulomatous inflammation in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA).
  
  
  METHODS
  From 169 patients with GPA, 17 patients with granulomatous inflammation, without evidence of vasculitis were identified and 36 patients without measurable 'granuloma' formation. HMGB1 serum levels were determined and compared between the two groups, using a Mann-Whitney U test. Serum levels of 26 healthy individuals served as controls. In a further 21 patients with GPA with a pulmonary granulomatous manifestation from the study population, CT volumetry of 'granuloma' was performed. Volumes were compared with serum levels of HMGB1 (Spearman rank order test).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of HMGB1 were significantly higher in patients with predominant granulomatous disease than in patients without measurable 'granuloma' manifestations (6.44 ± 4.53 ng/ml vs 3.85 ± 2.88 ng/ml; p=0.0107). In both groups, levels of HMGB1 were significantly higher than in controls (2.34 ± 2.01 ng/ml; p<0.01). A positive correlation of HMGB1 serum levels with volumes of pulmonary 'granuloma' (r=0.761, p<0.0017) was seen.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HMGB1 serum levels are significantly higher in GPA with predominant granulomatous manifestations and correlate with volumes of pulmonary 'granuloma'. HMGB1 may be used as a marker of the burden of granulomatous inflammation in GPA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany. f.henes@uke.uni-hamburg.de
authors.forename: F O
authors.initials: FO
authors.lastname: Henes
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Bley
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fabel
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Both
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herrmann
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Csernok
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Gross
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moosig
mesh_terms: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006099:Granuloma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D014890:Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D024243:HMGB1 Protein / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D019268:Antibodies, Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic; D015415:Biomarkers; D024243:HMGB1 Protein