Investigating Kidney Biomarkers to Track Lupus
Autoimmune
disease treatment is getting challenging for doctors to handle as the numbers
only keep increasing as the years pass by. Lupus is one such autoimmune disease
affecting the skin, joints, kidneys, brain, and lungs.
Lupus Treatment |
The chances
of the disease affecting the kidneys are high in Lupus affected patients. While there are many patients undergoing
Lupus treatment in Pune, there is still a need for kidney biomarkers that can
detect histopathological and clinical lupus activity and have a long-lasting
treatment response.
What is a kidney biomarker?
A biomarker
or a biological marker is a measuring indicator used to measure a specific
biological state or activity of the disease.
A kidney biomarker detects the activity of a disease or kidney injury.
A Glimpse into kidney biomarkers:
Primitive
methods such as serum criterion or BUN (blood urea nitrogen) fail to detect the
actual renal activity damage. Moreover, conventional methods are not strong
enough to detect continuous activities in lupus affected kidneys, and the
chances of a relapse are high. Hence, a need for a novel biomarker that can
detect early renal flare, monitor the response, diagnose sensitivity and
accuracy of the disease has become a necessity. Such a biomarker will not only speed
up the autoimmune disease treatment process but also reduce kidney
damage.
An ideal biomarker should have the
following characteristics:
•Correspond to the disease or activity occurring in the
renal function.
•Should be
sensitive to change and monitor kidney activities for appropriate treatment
•Able to
detect early renal flare for specific treatment. Avoid further clinical changes
and kidney damage.
•Kidney
biomarkers should be able to detect early stages of lupus nephritis. It should
easy to access, interpret and available.
Some of the biomarkers that seem to
predict flare are:
1. MCP-1 or Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 is a
leukocyte chemotactic factor used as a biomarker to detect renal activity in
Lupus kidneys. As it involves pathogenesis in renal injury and inflammation,
the MCP-1 reflects higher nephritis activity in urine levels. Hence it is proved
to be sensitive in detecting renal flare activity and severity of the flare.
2. NGAL or
Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is a low weight antibacterial
molecular protein. Its levels seemed to increase in kidney injuries before the
rise in serum creatinine. When tested on experimental models, it is seen to
have a protective effect on renal tubules. It improves acute renal injury
making it one of the components for biomarkers.
3. TF, AGP, CP, and L-PGDS were measured on children with Lupus
kidneys. TF was seen consistent in forecasting renal flare only in patients
having a flare. AGP increased not only
in patients having a flare but also the ones stable, consistent, active,
improving nephritis conditions. L-PGDS increased in patients with active
flares, stable, and active nephritis while, CP had no effects on flare-ups.
4. Anti c1q can be one of the biomarkers for
detecting a flare-up. Its levels seemed to significantly increase before the
renal flare and reduced post the flare.
Hospitals administering lupus treatment in Pune try their best to use novel
biomarkers for effective treatments and reduce the toxicity levels.
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