title: BAFF level increased in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  BAFF (B-cell activating factor of the TNF family), an important regulator of B-cell, has been observed to be over-expressed in a variety of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is an acquired autoimmune disease occurred when antibodies directed against autologous red blood cells. We assessed serum levels of BAFF in AIHA patients with different serological characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Serum BAFF levels were measured in 44 AIHA patients with different direct antiglobulin test (DAT) results and 25 healthy controls. The correlation of BAFF expression with DAT results and serological characteristics was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of BAFF in AIHA patients were significantly higher than in healthy subjects (AIHA: 1382.7 ± 1412.8 pg/ml, healthy control: 725.0 ± 415.7 pg/ml, P = 0.0057). Serum BAFF levels were significantly higher in patients with IgG(+)C3(+) or IgG(+) than healthy controls (DAT: negative) (P = 0.012, 0.004, respectively). No significant correlations were presented between serum BAFF levels and four serological parameters: hemoglobine, percentage of reticulocyte, total serum bilirubin, and lactate dehydrogenase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AIHA patients present higher serum BAFF levels than healthy controls, especially for those of IgG(+)C3(+) DAT result. This might lead to a new approach of AIHA treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yu-Bing
authors.initials: YB
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao-Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Jun-Min
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Bei-Wen
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Wei
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Zi-Zhen
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Xu
keywords: B-cell activating factor; autoimmune hemolytic anemia; direct antiglobulin test