Expression of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) in proliferative lupus nephritis, revisited

Figures & data

Proliferative lupus nephritis patients included in the study.

Table 1. Baseline demographic and clinical characteristics of the studied active proliferative LN patients.

	Responders (14)		Non-responders (10)		Significance
Age, Median (IQR)	24 (20–30)		26(23–33)		P = 0.37
Females (N)	12		9		P = 1.00
Time to diagnosis of LN (months)	6.5 (0–34.5)		19.5 (9.75–65.5)		P = 0.11
Previous disease activity	N	%	N	%
Musculocutaneous	6	42.9	5	50	P = 0.042*
Organ activity	1	7.1	4	40
No activity before	7	50	1	10
Previously treated with steroids
No	4	28.6	0	0	p = 0.114
Yes	10	71.4	10	100
Receiving immunosuppressive therapy before onset of LN
No	5	35.8	1	10	p = 0.341
Yes	9	64.2	9	90

N: number of patients.

*Trend toward significance if p ≤ 0.1.

**significant if p < 0.05.

Table 2. Baseline clinical data and laboratory measures of the studied LN patients.

	Responders (n = 14)	Non- responders (n = 10)	significance
Hb (g/dl)	9.9 (9–12.1)	9.6 (9.17–10.3)	P = 0.73
PLT (x10^3/ul)	198 (164–271)	278 (225–361)	P = 0.14
WBCs (x10^3/ul)	6.15 (4.16–7.27)	6.3 (4.4–8.3)	P = 0.70
u-PCR (g/mmol)	3.27 (2.47–4.88)	2.1 (1.72–2.56)	P = 0.04**
Urea (mg/dl)	36 (29.5–67)	39.5 (29–80.7)	P = 1.00
Creatinine (mg/dl)	0.86 (0.72–1.22)	1.20 (0.67–1.39)	P = 0.70
CKD Epi (mL/min/1.73m^2)	93.13 (71.5–119.7)	70.75 (54–109)	P = 0.42
UA (mg/dl)	5.8 (4.45–8)	6.05 (5.6–8.52)	P = 0.29
Albumin (g/dl)	2.85 (2.5–3.55)	3 (2.55–3.15)	P = 0.61
C3 (mg/dl)	62 (34.7–85.5)	59 (40.75–68.3)	P = 0.76
Urinary WBCs/hpf	10.5 (5–21)	11.5(9–21)	P = 0.59
Urinary RBCs/hpf	4 (4–8)	6 (5–18)	P = 0.49
SLEDAI-2K	16 (14.5–18.25)	20 (13–23.5)	P = 0.27
Renal SLEDAI	8 (8–12)	12 (8–16)	P = 0.10*
patients with triple positive Anti-dsDNA (N)	5	9	P = 0.67

N: number of patients.

Data presented in median and interquartile range (IQR).

*Trend toward significance if p ≤ 0.1.

**significant if p < 0.05.

Table 3. Histopathological characteristics of the taken renal biopsies at baseline (n = 18).

	Responders (n = 10)	Non- responders (n = 8)	significance
Class III (N)	2	0	p = 0.75
Class III-V (N)	2	3
Class IV (N)	2	1
Class IV-V(N)	4	4
Chronicity index	2.5 (0.25–3)	5 (4.25–5)	P = 0.04**
Activity index	10 (7.25–15)	12 (8.25–15.75)	p = 0.57
Glomerulosclerosis scores	1	1	p = 0.48
Interstitial fibrosis(n = 19)	1	2	p = 0.34
Tubular atrophy	1	2	p = 0.34
C crescent	1	1	p = 1.00
Segmental necrosis	2	2	p = 0.62
Wire looping	1.5	1.5	p = 1.00
Endocapillary Hypercellularity	2.5	3	p = 0.80
Neutrophil infiltration(n = 15)	2	1	p = 0.35
Interstitial inflammation	1	1.5	P = 0.06*

N: number of patients.

Data presented in median and interquartile range (IQR).

*Trend toward significance if p ≤ 0.1.

**significant if p < 0.05.

Figure 1. Difference in BAFF expression levels in PBMCs and renal tissues in responders and non-responders.

Table 4. Difference in BAFF expression levels in PBMCs and renal tissues in responders and non-responders.

	Responders (n = 14)	Non-responders (n = 10)	significance
PBMC BAFF expression (24)	1.45 (0.74–1.83)	1.44 (0.922–1.97)	p = 0747
	Responders (n = 9)	Non- responders (n = 7)	significance
Renal BAFF expression (16)	1.49 (1.07–2.42)	2.4 (2.16–3.82)	p = 0.210

Data presented in median and interquartile range (IQR).

*Trend toward significance if p ≤ 0.1.

**significant if p < 0.05.

Table 5. Correlation between both PBMC and tissue BAFF expression and 6-month follow-up parameters.

	PBMC BAFF		Tissue BAFF
	Correlation Coefficient	significance	Correlation Coefficient	significance
u-PCR	0.182	P = 0.40	0.332	P = 0.22
% reduction in u-PCR	-0.198	P = 0.36	-0.482	P = 0.07*
creatinine	0.343	P = 0.10*	0.118	P = 0.67
eGFR	-0.363	P = 0.08*	-0.125	P = 0.65
Urinary RBCs	0.248	P = 0.25	0.200	P = 0.47
urinary leucocytes	0.421	P = 0.04**	0.005	P = 0.98
Renal SLEDAI	0.472	P = 0.02**	0.006	P = 0.98
SLEDAI-2K	0.459	P = 0.03**	-0.004	P = 0.99

*Trend toward significance if p ≤ 0.1.

**significant if p < 0.05.