title: Is there a role for urinary podocyte excretion assessment in lupus nephritis?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish the occurrence and intensity of podocyturia and its relation to grade of disease activity, as defined by clinical and laboratory criteria.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, cross-sectional study involving 50 patients with lupus nephritis and 29 controls, which had podocyturia levels determined from random urine samples using an immunofluorescence technique. Disease activity was graded by BILAG (renal criteria) and an additional system used in the service (S2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty patients with lupus nephritis (WHO classes III, IV and V), with a median age of 37 years, were evaluated. Of these, 86.5% were female, and 52% were BILAG A. Podocyturia quantification in the lupus nephritis and control groups differed significantly (p = 0.009). This score was higher in relation to classes III, IV and V. The correlation with C3 consumption was stronger (p = 0.011) than with C4. The highest levels were found in the most active groups (A and B of BILAG and S2). Lower podocyturia correlated with a lower dose of prednisone. There was no association with the intensity of proteinuria, hematuria or pyuria, serum creatinine levels, among others.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Podocyturia assessment, which was performed by immunofluorescence in this study, can be used as an indicator of disease activity with the advantage of being a urinary biomarker. The levels proved to be higher in patients with lupus nephritis than in the controls and were particularly higher in class IV.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Nephrology , Federal University of São Paulo (Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Mansur
authors.affiliation: a Division of Nephrology , Federal University of São Paulo (Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Amélia R P
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sabino
authors.affiliation: a Division of Nephrology , Federal University of São Paulo (Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Sonia K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Nishida
authors.affiliation: a Division of Nephrology , Federal University of São Paulo (Universidade Federal de São Paulo - UNIFESP) , São Paulo , Brazil.
authors.forename: Gianna Mastroianni
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Kirsztajn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008181:Lupus Nephritis / Q000652:urine*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050199:Podocytes; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014556:Urine / Q000166:cytology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Glomerulonephritis; lupus nephritis; podocytes; podocyturia; proteinuria; systemic lupus erythematosus