Urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin as a novel biomarker for disease activity in lupus nephritis.

Objectives: Clinical and laboratory markers in current use have limited specificity and sensitivity for predicting the development of renal disease in lupus patients. In this longitudinal study, we investigated whether urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (uNGAL) predicts active nephritis and renal flares in lupus patients with and without a history of biopsy-proven lupus nephritis.

Methods: Renal disease activity and flare status was determined by SLEDAI and BILAG scores.

Proliferative glomerulonephritis in lupus patients with human immunodeficiency virus infection: a difficult clinical challenge.

Objectives: To describe the unusual occurrence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with nephritis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals.

Methods: Chart review-based report of a case of SLE with diffuse proliferative glomerulonephritis (DPGN) in an HIV-infected man, together with a literature review of previously published cases. We searched the English language medical literature from 1987 to 2009 using the following PubMed and Medline terms: "SLE," "HIV," "DPGN.

Expression of endothelial protein C receptor in cortical peritubular capillaries associates with a poor clinical response in lupus nephritis.

Objective: To study the membrane expression of endothelial protein C receptor (mEPCR) in the renal microvasculature in lupus nephritis (LN) as a potential marker of injury and/or prognostic indicator for response to therapy.

Methods: mEPCR expression was analysed by immunohistochemistry in normal kidney and in 59 biopsies from 49 patients with LN. Clinical parameters were assessed at baseline, 6 months and 1 year.