title: Phospholipase A2 receptor autoantibodies and clinical outcome in patients with primary membranous nephropathy.
abstract: Membranous nephropathy (MN) is the most common cause of nephrotic syndrome in adults, with an uncertain clinical outcome. The characterization of the phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R) as the major target antigen in primary MN and the detection of circulating autoantibodies in these patients is a major advance in understanding this disease. To test whether PLA2R antibody levels reflect disease activity or clinical outcome, we performed a prospective multicenter study of 133 adult patients with primary MN and detectable serum PLA2R antibodies who had not received immunosuppressive therapy. Patients were followed ≤24 months. PLA2R antibody levels associated with clinical disease activity (proteinuria) in patients with immunosuppressive therapy (n=101) or supportive care (n=32). Within 3 months, immunosuppressive therapy led to a sustained 81% reduction in PLA2R antibody levels paralleled by a 39% reduction in proteinuria. Patients who experienced remission of proteinuria after 12 months had significantly lower PLA2R antibody levels at the time of study inclusion compared with patients with no remission. Patients with high PLA2R antibody levels achieved remission of proteinuria significantly later than patients with low PLA2R antibody levels. PLA2R antibody levels fell over time in patients with spontaneous remission but remained elevated in patients who did not show a reduction in proteinuria. Multivariable Cox regression analysis confirmed PLA2R antibody level as an independent risk factor for not achieving remission of proteinuria. We conclude that a decrease in PLA2R antibody level is associated with a decrease of proteinuria in patients with primary MN.
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Elion
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hoxha
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ina
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Thiele
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Gunther
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zahner
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulf
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Panzer
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sigrid
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Harendza
authors.affiliation: University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany rstahl@uke.de.
authors.forename: Rolf A K
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Stahl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D015433:Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009404:Nephrotic Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology*; D054507:Receptors, Phospholipase A2 / Q000276:immunology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012709:Serum Albumin / Q000378:metabolism; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D001323:Autoantibodies; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C516360:PLA2R1 protein, human; D054507:Receptors, Phospholipase A2; D012709:Serum Albumin