Uric Acid Could Predict Renal Damage in Lupus Nephritis

Serum uric acid levels could be an effective marker of renal damage in patients with lupus nephritis, according to a recent study.

The researchers conducted a case-control study involving 3 groups of patients: 25 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with recently diagnosed active lupus nephritis (LN), 26 with SLE and without LN, and 38 healthy controls. All patients had serum uric acid (SUA) and serum creatinine levels measured.

Overall, the researchers observe that SUA was significantly higher in patients with SLE and active LN than in the other groups, with a cutoff value of 0.41 mmol/L of SUA associated with LN onset (sensitivity of 58%, specificity of 100%). During follow-up, baseline SUA of 0.52 mmol/L or greater was associated with new-onset renal damage within 43 months.

“Serum uric acid is a cheap, rapid, and popular test available in most of the worldwide laboratories; its higher levels showed a significant association with lupus nephritis onset and new onset of renal damage,” the researchers concluded.

“Uric acid could have a role in the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis patients and consequent renal damage.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Elnady B, Almalki A, Abdel-Fattah MM, et al. Serum uric acid as a sensitive concordant marker with lupus nephritis and new onset of renal damage: a prospective cohort study. Clin Rheumatol. 2021;40(5):1827-1834. doi: 10.1007/s10067-020-05473-x