Journal of Immunology Research (Jan 2019)

Serum Leucine-Rich α2-Glycoprotein as a Biomarker for Monitoring Disease Activity in Patients with Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

  • Masaki Shimizu,
  • Natsumi Inoue,
  • Mao Mizuta,
  • Yasuo Nakagishi,
  • Akihiro Yachie

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1155/2019/3140204
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 2019

Abstract

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To investigate whether serum leucine-rich α2-glycoprotein (LRG) levels are useful as a marker of disease activity in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (s-JIA), we determined serum LRG levels in fifty-nine s-JIA patients, 15 with other subtypes of JIA, 7 with Kawasaki disease (KD), 7 with influenza A infection (flu), 7 with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infection, and 20 healthy controls (HC). Results were compared with the clinical features of s-JIA and serum cytokine levels including interleukin- (IL-) 6, IL-18, and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptors I and II. Serum LRG levels in active s-JIA were higher compared to those in other subtypes of JIA, EHEC, flu patients, and HC. Serum LRG levels were normalized in the inactive s-JIA phase after treatment. Serum LRG levels were positively correlated with serum C-reactive protein and ferritin levels. Serum LRG levels reflected s-JIA disease activity and thus may be useful for monitoring s-JIA disease activity.