title: Correlation between cell free DNA levels and medical evaluation of disease progression in systemic lupus erythematosus patients.
abstract: High levels of cell free DNA (cfDNA) in human blood plasma have been described in patients with autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the levels of cfDNA in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and to assess fluctuations of cfDNA concentrations compared to the course of disease progression under standard treatment. Therefore, nuclear cfDNA concentrations in plasma were measured in 59 SLE patients and 59 healthy controls. Follow-up blood plasma was collected from 27 of the 59 SLE patients. Patients were characterised by clinical parameters (antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-dsDNA-antibodies, C3, C4, and CRP), SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) and medical therapy. Our results showed that cfDNA concentrations were significantly higher in SLE patients compared to healthy individuals. Levels of cfDNA assessed in serial samples correlated significantly with the medical evaluation of disease activity in SLE patients. Our results could implicate cfDNA as a global marker for disease activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Suzan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tug
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Helmig
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Menke
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Health Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zahn
authors.affiliation: Institute of Psychology, Health Psychology, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kubiak
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, University Medical Centre of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schwarting
authors.affiliation: Department of Sports Medicine, Disease Prevention and Rehabilitation, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany. Electronic address: simonpe@uni-mainz.de.
authors.forename: Perikles
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Simon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers; D002474:Cell-Free System; D004247:DNA / Q000276:immunology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004247:DNA
keywords: Cell free DNA; Disease progression; Medical evaluation; Systemic lupus erythematosus