Correction: Serum levels of APRIL, BAFF, and IL-10 in systemic lupus erythematosus have limited utility as biomarkers for disease activity or flare prediction - Scorecard - MDSpire
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Correction: Serum levels of APRIL, BAFF, and IL-10 in systemic lupus erythematosus have limited utility as biomarkers for disease activity or flare prediction
Clinical Scorecard: Reevaluation of Serum Levels of APRIL, BAFF, and IL-10 in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Limited Role as Biomarkers for Disease Activity and Flare Prediction
At a Glance
Category
Detail
Condition
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), including lupus nephritis (LN)
Key Mechanisms
Serum cytokines APRIL, BAFF, and IL-10 levels evaluated as potential biomarkers
Target Population
Patients with active and inactive SLE, including those with renal flare and lupus nephritis
Care Setting
Clinical rheumatology outpatient and inpatient settings
Key Highlights
No significant differences in serum APRIL, BAFF, and IL-10 levels between SLE patients with and without prior cyclophosphamide treatment.
Approximately 33.3% of enrolled SLE cases had renal flare at study enrollment; 41.7% of lupus nephritis patients diagnosed via renal biopsy.
Limited utility of APRIL, BAFF, and IL-10 as biomarkers for disease activity and flare prediction in SLE.
Guideline-Based Recommendations
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of lupus nephritis should be supported by renal biopsy findings when indicated.
Management
Hydroxychloroquine remains a mainstay treatment; immunosuppressive therapies such as azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil are used selectively.
Monitoring & Follow-up
Serum levels of APRIL, BAFF, and IL-10 are not reliable markers for monitoring disease activity or predicting flares in SLE.
Risks
Prior cyclophosphamide treatment does not significantly alter serum cytokine levels (APRIL, BAFF, IL-10) in SLE patients.
Patient & Prescribing Data
SLE patients enrolled in the study, including those with active and inactive disease and lupus nephritis.
Most patients were on hydroxychloroquine; only a minority received other immunosuppressive agents such as azathioprine or mycophenolate mofetil at enrollment.
Clinical Best Practices
Use renal biopsy to confirm lupus nephritis diagnosis when clinically indicated.
Continue hydroxychloroquine as baseline therapy in SLE management.
Do not rely on serum APRIL, BAFF, or IL-10 levels alone to assess disease activity or predict flares.
Consider comprehensive clinical and laboratory evaluation beyond cytokine measurements for disease monitoring.
by Gabriela Rybka, Radosław Dziedzic, Kazimierz Węglarczyk, Mamert Milewski, Andżelika Siwiec-Koźlik, Sylwia Dziedzina, Marek Sanak, Jacek Musiał, Maciej Siedlar, Mariusz Korkosz, Joanna Kosałka-Węgiel
