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Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation
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Evaluation of endothelial protein C receptor in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: correlation with disease activity and lupus nephritis

Egyptian Rheumatology and Rehabilitation volume 42, pages 68–72 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

Systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) is a systemic, multifaceted inflammatory disease with clinical manifestations is protean and follows a relapsing and remitting course. Lupus Nephritis (LN) is one of the most frequent and serious manifestation. Endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR) is a transmembrane receptor that is shed into soluble form (sEPCR) in inflammatory status. It is demonstrated as a part of the pathobiology of the SLE disease.

Aim of the work

To assess correlation of sEPCR level in SLE patients to the disease activity in these patients and to relate sEPCR to LN.

Patients and methods

Serum level of sEPCR using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), chemical and immunological markers of SLE were measured in 30 SLE patients and 30 age and sex matched apparently healthy controls. SLE patients were subgrouped into 20 patients without LN and 10 with LN. Disease activity was assessed using SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI).

Results

A significantly higher sEPCR level was found on comparing SLE patients to controls with statistically highly significant difference (z = 4.8, P < 0.001). Moreover, there was a significantly higher sEPCR level on comparing SLE patients with LN to those without LN with statistically highly significant difference (z = 3.9, P < 0.001). Serum sEPCR had a highly significant positive correlation with SLEDAI in SLE patients (r = 0.66, P < 0.01).

Conclusion

sEPCR has a possible role in the pathogenesis of SLE and particularly LN diseases, reflecting disease activity in SLE patients.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Medicine, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11331, Egypt

    Asmaa Shaaban MSc, BSc, Nadia Abd El-Salam Elkadery, Hebatallah Ahmed El-Shamy & Rana Ahmed El-Hilaly

  2. Department of Medicine, Division of Pathology, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Nadia Galal El-Hefnawy

  3. Department of Clinical Pathology, Division of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt

    Nesrine Aly Mohamed

Authors
  1. Asmaa Shaaban MSc, BSc
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  2. Nadia Abd El-Salam Elkadery
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  3. Hebatallah Ahmed El-Shamy
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  4. Nadia Galal El-Hefnawy
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  5. Rana Ahmed El-Hilaly
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  6. Nesrine Aly Mohamed
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Asmaa Shaaban MSc, BSc.

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Shaaban, A., El-Salam Elkadery, N.A., El-Shamy, H.A. et al. Evaluation of endothelial protein C receptor in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: correlation with disease activity and lupus nephritis. Egypt Rheumatol Rehabil 42, 68–72 (2015). https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-161X.157864

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.4103/1110-161X.157864

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