Clinical utility of urinary soluble CD163 in evaluation of lupus nephritis patients

Aim of the work: To assess urinary soluble CD163 (sCD136) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients compared to healthy controls. In addition to determine its association with different SLE clinical features, laboratory investigations and pathological indices focusing on those suggest renal disease activity. Patients and methods: The study included 58 SLE patients and 30 controls. SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) was assessed and patients subdivided into active lupus nephritis (ALN) (renal SLEDAI ≥ 4) and no-renal activity (NRA) SLE patients (renal SLEDAI = 0). Urinary sCD163 was measured by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA). Urine values were normalized to urinary creatinine excretion. Renal biopsies were performed in 21 ALN patients. Results: They were 54 females and 4 males with a mean age 31.8 ± 9.1 years and disease duration 6.2 ± 4.8 years. They were 31 with ALN and 27 NRA SLE patients. Urinary sCD163 level was significantly higher in SLE patients (1.85 ± 0.3) than controls (0.5 ± 0.36, p 0.82 with sensitivity of 90.3%, specificity of 88.89%, p