Raised Plasma Levels of Asymmetric Dimethylarginine Are Associated with Pathological Type and Predict the Therapeutic Effect in Lupus Nephritis Patients Treated with Cyclophosphamide.

Background: Lupus nephritis (LN) is one of the most serious complications of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) has been associated with cardiovascular events in SLE patients and is a strong predictor of the progression of chronic kidney disease. However, whether ADMA can provide a predictive value for the diagnosis and treatment of LN patients remains unclear.