The level and clinical significance of stem cell factor in lupus nephritis / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the relationship between the level of serum stem cell factor (SCF) and the activity of lupus nephritis (LN). Methods Sixty LN patients who had underwent routine renal biopsy were selected from March 2014 to September 2016. According to the systemic lupus erythematosus disease activity index (SLEDAI), the LN patients were divided into two groups active nephritis group (30 cases) and stable nephritis group(30 cases). Meanwhile 30 healthy controls were selected as normal control group. Spearman correlation analysis test was used for correlations between the level of serum SCF and the activity of LN. Results The serum level of SCF was significantly higher in active nephritis group [(357.29 ± 63.85) ng/L] than that in stable nephritis group [(310.03 ± 40.17) ng/L] , the serum level of SCF in stable nephritis group was significantly higher than that in normal control group [(154.06 ± 22.49) ng/L], and there were significant differences (P0.05). Conclusions The level of SCF may play an important role in the occurrence and development of LN. It could reflect clinical and pathology changes and emerg as a potential serum biomarkers of LN.