Immunoinflammatory markers and disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus: something old, something new

This study assessed the utility of some novel inflammatory markers compared with traditional laboratory markers in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In a cohort of 43 SLE patients (19 with inactive and 24 with active SLE) and 20 healthy controls, serial measures of soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule (sVCAM-1) were significantly associated with SLE disease activity, scored using the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group index. Inflammatory markers neopterin and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (sICAM-1) appeared to be clinically useful for isolated assessments of disease activity. Both antibodies to double-stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) and sVCAM-1 were relatively good markers of disease activity and could help to predict remission or monitorthe therapeutic response in SLE.