title: Serum BAFF and APRIL levels in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia and their clinical significance.
abstract: B cell-activating factor of the tumor necrosis factor family (BAFF) and a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) play crucial roles in B cell development, survival, and antibody production. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is an acquired autoimmune disease that occurs when antibodies target autologous red blood cells. Here, we analyzed the serum levels of BAFF and APRIL and their respective clinical associations in patients with AIHA. Serum BAFF and APRIL levels in patients with AIHA were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than in healthy individuals. Serum BAFF and APRIL levels were significantly augmented in patients with lower hemoglobin levels (hemoglobin was <8 g/dL) and higher LDH activity (LDH > 480 IU/mL). Glucocorticoid treatment dramatically reduced serum levels of BAFF and APRIL. Thus, serum BAFF and APRIL levels may reflect the clinical activity of this disease. Our results indicate that analysis of serum concentrations of BAFF and APRIL potentially represents a useful tool for the assessment of AIHA disease activity and progression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China. xuzizhen@126.com.
authors.forename: Zi-Zhen
authors.initials: ZZ
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital and Shanghai Clinical Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
authors.forename: Bing-Bing
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital and Shanghai Clinical Center, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China.
authors.forename: Hong
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, 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, 200025, China.
authors.forename: Ye-Fei
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000744:Anemia, Hemolytic, Autoimmune / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13 / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D005938:Glucocorticoids; C114631:TNFSF13 protein, human; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; D053300:Tumor Necrosis Factor Ligand Superfamily Member 13
keywords: A proliferation-inducing ligand; Autoimmune hemolytic anemia; B cell activating factor; Direct antiglobulin test