PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - T Koyama
AU  - H Tsukamoto
AU  - Y Miyagi
AU  - D Himeji
AU  - J Otsuka
AU  - H Miyagawa
AU  - M Harada
AU  - T Horiuchi
TI  - Raised serum APRIL levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
AID  - 10.1136/ard.2004.022491
DP  - 2005 Jul 01
TA  - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
PG  - 1065--1067
VI  - 64
IP  - 7
4099  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/64/7/1065.short
4100  - http://ard.bmj.com/content/64/7/1065.full
SO  - Ann Rheum Dis2005 Jul 01; 64
AB  - Objective: To determine whether serum levels of a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) are raised in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and correlate with autoantibody titres or disease activity, or both. Methods: Serum samples from 48 patients with SLE, 41 normal healthy subjects, and 21 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were assayed for APRIL by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. Medical charts were retrospectively reviewed for autoantibody titres and immunoglobulin levels. Disease activity was assessed using the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG) index. Results: The APRIL levels in the serum samples from patients with SLE were significantly higher than in those from healthy controls and those from patients with RA. Serum APRIL levels did not correlate with serum IgG and IgM levels, but had a tendency to correlate with anti-double stranded DNA antibody titres. Moreover, serum APRIL levels correlated significantly with musculoskeletal manifestations among patients with SLE when assessed by the BILAG index. Conclusion: APRIL may be an important factor in raised autoantibody titres and musculoskeletal disease in patients with SLE. Patients with raised serum APRIL levels may be ideal candidates for therapeutic targeting of APRIL.