Plasma soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) levels in systemic lupus erythematosus

Abstract

Objective: Soluble urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (suPAR) is a biomarker of systemic inflammation. We aimed to characterize plasma suPAR levels in SLE patients.

Methods: We measured plasma suPAR, C reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in 89 SLE patients and 29 healthy controls.

Results: suPAR and ESR values were higher in SLE than in controls, while CRP levels were comparable. ROC analysis of suPAR levels indicated a cut-off value of 5.70 ng/mL to distinguish patients with high disease activity (SLEDAI >8).

Conclusion: suPAR might be an objective marker for identifying SLE patients with active disease.

Keywords::

• CRP
• inflammation
• SLE
• suPAR
• vasculitis

Declaration of interst

This work was supported by the Hungarian Scientific Research Fund [OTKA; grant number 101661], the Kerpel-Fronius Talent Support Program of Semmelweis University and an unrestricted research grant from Roche Hungary Ltd. None of the authors has any conflict of interest related to this study.