title: Serum L-ficolin levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  L-ficolin plays an important role in innate immunity and is involved in apoptosis. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum L-ficolin levels and clinical manifestations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum L-ficolin levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 66 SLE patients and 50 healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median serum L-ficolin levels were 5.0 and 8.7 μg/ml in SLE patients and controls, respectively (p = 0.0001). There were no significant differences in serum L-ficolin levels between the active disease group [SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) >6] and the inactive disease group (SLEDAI <5). Decreased serum L-ficolin levels were associated with thrombocytopenia (median of with vs. without thrombocytopenia 3.4 vs. 5.3 μg/ml, p = 0.008). There were no correlations between serum L-ficolin levels and SLEDAI, serum C3, or serum C4 levels.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The association between L-ficolin and thrombocytopenia suggests a pathogenic role for L-ficolin in thrombocytopenia in SLE.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterology and Rheumatology, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan. chiehiro@fmu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Tomoyuki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Asano
authors.forename: Shuzo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Haruyo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Iwadate
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.forename: Hiromasa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ohira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D037102:Lectins / Q000097:blood*; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D000097604:Ficolins
chemical_list: D037102:Lectins; D000097604:Ficolins