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B-lymphocyte activating factor levels are increased in patients with Wegener’s granulomatosis and inversely correlated with ANCA titer

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Abstract

Circulating autoantibodies against neutrophils (ANCA) are a distinctive finding in patients with Wegener’s granulomatosis (WG). B-lymphocyte activating factor (BAFF) promotes autoantibody production by increasing B cell survival and proliferation. We investigated serum BAFF levels (s-BAFF) in a WG patient cohort in relation to ANCA titers and disease activity. Baseline data were obtained in twenty-two WG patients (55% female, age 44 years, disease duration 1 year). S-BAFF was determined by capture ELISA and associations between s-BAFF, clinical (Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (BVAS), Vasculitis Damage Index (VDI) and Disease Extent Index (DEI)) and biochemical (C-reactive protein (CRP), IgG and ANCA) disease measures were analysed in a cross sectional as well as longitudinal analysis. S-BAFF was increased in WG patients compared to healthy controls (1.8 vs. 0.55 ng/ml, p < 0.01). S-BAFF was higher in ANCA negative than ANCA-positive WG sera (2.16 vs. 1.29 ng/ml, p < 0.01), correlated independently and inversely with ANCA levels (Rs −0.48, p < 0.01) but did not correlate with CRP, BVAS, DEI or VDI scores. Individual s-BAFF profiles were stable over time in 68% of patients. The finding of a negative correlation between ANCA levels and s-BAFF that is independent of steroid treatment indicates that BAFF does not directly drive ANCA production in WG.

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Acknowledgements

The authors report no conflicts of interest in relation to this study. They also wish to thank Kirsten Nilsen, Andrea Becker-Merok, Gro Østli Eilertsen and Cathrin Nikolaisen for data collection and technical assistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital of Northern Norway, 9038, Tromsø, Norway

    Lucius Bader, Wenche Koldingsnes & Johannes Nossent

  2. Department of Rheumatology, Institute of Clinical Medicine University of Tromsø, 9037, Tromsø, Norway

    Johannes Nossent

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  1. Lucius Bader
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  2. Wenche Koldingsnes
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  3. Johannes Nossent
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Correspondence to Johannes Nossent.

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Bader, L., Koldingsnes, W. & Nossent, J. B-lymphocyte activating factor levels are increased in patients with Wegener’s granulomatosis and inversely correlated with ANCA titer. Clin Rheumatol 29, 1031–1035 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-010-1526-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-010-1526-z

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