Circulating free light chains (FLCs), considered biomarkers of B cell activity, are frequently elevated in patients affected by systemic inflammatory autoimmune diseases. As the systemic sclerosis (SSc) clinical course can be variable, this study is aimed at evaluating FLCs levels in affected individuals as biomarkers of disease activity. We assessed FLC levels in serum and urine of 72 SSc patients and 30 healthy controls (HC). Results were analyzed in comparison with overall clinical and laboratory findings, disease activity index (DAI) and disease severity scale (DSS). SSc patients displayed increased levels of κ and λ FLC in serum significantly higher than HC (p = 0.0001) alongside the mean values of free κ/λ ratio and κ + λ sum (p = 0.0001). SSc patients showed increased free κ in urine with a κ/λ higher than HC (p = 0.0001). SSc patients with increased κ + λ in serum showed that erythro-sedimentation rate (p = 0.034), C-reactive protein (p = 0.003), DAI (p = 0.024) and DSS (p = 0.015) were higher if compared to SSc patients with normal levels of FLC. A positive linear correlation was found between serum levels of free κ and DAI (r = 0.29, p = 0.014). In addition, SSc patients with increased free κ in urine had higher DAI (p = 0.048) than SSc patients with normal κ levels. Our results strengthen the role of serum FLC as useful biomarker in clinical practice to early diagnosis and monitor disease activity, showing for the first time that also urine FLC levels correlated with disease activity in SSc patients.

Gigante, A., Pellicano, C., Leodori, G., Napodano, C., Vantaggio, L., Gulli, F., Marino, M., Visentini, M., Rosato, E., Basile, U., Serum and urine free light chains measurements in patients with systemic sclerosis: novel biomarkers for disease activity, <<CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY>>, 2021; 205 (2): 135-141. [doi:10.1111/cei.13611] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/181470]

Serum and urine free light chains measurements in patients with systemic sclerosis: novel biomarkers for disease activity

Napodano, Cecilia;Marino, Mariapaola;Basile, Umberto
Ultimo
2021

Abstract

Circulating free light chains (FLCs), considered biomarkers of B cell activity, are frequently elevated in patients affected by systemic inflammatory autoimmune diseases. As the systemic sclerosis (SSc) clinical course can be variable, this study is aimed at evaluating FLCs levels in affected individuals as biomarkers of disease activity. We assessed FLC levels in serum and urine of 72 SSc patients and 30 healthy controls (HC). Results were analyzed in comparison with overall clinical and laboratory findings, disease activity index (DAI) and disease severity scale (DSS). SSc patients displayed increased levels of κ and λ FLC in serum significantly higher than HC (p = 0.0001) alongside the mean values of free κ/λ ratio and κ + λ sum (p = 0.0001). SSc patients showed increased free κ in urine with a κ/λ higher than HC (p = 0.0001). SSc patients with increased κ + λ in serum showed that erythro-sedimentation rate (p = 0.034), C-reactive protein (p = 0.003), DAI (p = 0.024) and DSS (p = 0.015) were higher if compared to SSc patients with normal levels of FLC. A positive linear correlation was found between serum levels of free κ and DAI (r = 0.29, p = 0.014). In addition, SSc patients with increased free κ in urine had higher DAI (p = 0.048) than SSc patients with normal κ levels. Our results strengthen the role of serum FLC as useful biomarker in clinical practice to early diagnosis and monitor disease activity, showing for the first time that also urine FLC levels correlated with disease activity in SSc patients.
2021
Inglese
Gigante, A., Pellicano, C., Leodori, G., Napodano, C., Vantaggio, L., Gulli, F., Marino, M., Visentini, M., Rosato, E., Basile, U., Serum and urine free light chains measurements in patients with systemic sclerosis: novel biomarkers for disease activity, <<CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY>>, 2021; 205 (2): 135-141. [doi:10.1111/cei.13611] [http://hdl.handle.net/10807/181470]
File in questo prodotto:
Non ci sono file associati a questo prodotto.

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10807/181470
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? ND
  • Scopus 5
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 5
social impact