Lupus Nephritis Biomarkers: A Critical Review

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 25; no. 2; p. 805
• Main Authors: Alduraibi, Fatima K, Tsokos, George C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 01-01-2024
• Subjects: Antibodies; B cells; Belimumab; Biological markers; biomarker; Biomarkers; Biopsy; Chemokines; Cytokines; Development and progression; Forecasts and trends; Health aspects; Humans; Immunotherapy; Inflammation; Kidney; Kidneys; Lupus; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic; lupus nephritis; Lupus Nephritis - diagnosis; Mortality; Nephritis; Pathogenesis; Pathologic Complete Response; Phenotype; Systemic lupus erythematosus; biomarker; lupus nephritis; systemic lupus erythematosus
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms25020805

Lupus nephritis (LN), a major complication in individuals diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, substantially increases morbidity and mortality. Despite marked improvements in the survival of patients with severe LN over the past 50 years, complete clinical remission after immunosuppressive therapy is achieved in only half of the patients. Therefore, timely detection of LN is vital for initiating prompt therapeutic interventions and improving patient outcomes. Biomarkers have emerged as valuable tools for LN detection and monitoring; however, the complex role of these biomarkers in LN pathogenesis remains unclear. Renal biopsy remains the gold standard for the identification of the histological phenotypes of LN and guides disease management. However, the molecular pathophysiology of specific renal lesions remains poorly understood. In this review, we provide a critical, up-to-date overview of the latest developments in the field of LN biomarkers.