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Serum L-ficolin levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Modern Rheumatology

Abstract

Objective

L-ficolin plays an important role in innate immunity and is involved in apoptosis. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum L-ficolin levels and clinical manifestations in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

Serum L-ficolin levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in 66 SLE patients and 50 healthy controls.

Results

Median serum L-ficolin levels were 5.0 and 8.7 μg/ml in SLE patients and controls, respectively (p = 0.0001). There were no significant differences in serum L-ficolin levels between the active disease group [SLE Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) >6] and the inactive disease group (SLEDAI <5). Decreased serum L-ficolin levels were associated with thrombocytopenia (median of with vs. without thrombocytopenia 3.4 vs. 5.3 μg/ml, p = 0.008). There were no correlations between serum L-ficolin levels and SLEDAI, serum C3, or serum C4 levels.

Conclusion

The association between L-ficolin and thrombocytopenia suggests a pathogenic role for L-ficolin in thrombocytopenia in SLE.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Gastroenterology and Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Fukushima Medical University, 1 Hikarigaoka, Fukushima, 960-1295, Japan

    Hiroshi Watanabe, Rie Saito, Tomoyuki Asano, Shuzo Sato, Haruyo Iwadate, Hiroko Kobayashi & Hiromasa Ohira

Authors
  1. Hiroshi Watanabe
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  2. Rie Saito
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  3. Tomoyuki Asano
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  4. Shuzo Sato
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  5. Haruyo Iwadate
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  6. Hiroko Kobayashi
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  7. Hiromasa Ohira
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Hiroshi Watanabe.

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Watanabe, H., Saito, R., Asano, T. et al. Serum L-ficolin levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Mod Rheumatol 22, 899–902 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10165-012-0616-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10165-012-0616-y

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