Composite urinary biomarkers to predict pathological tubulointerstitial lesions in lupus nephritis

ObjectiveThis study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of urinary biomarkers including kidney injury molecule-1 (KIM-1), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in lupus nephritis.MethodsA total of 109 biopsy-proven lupus nephritis patients were included and 50 healthy individuals were used as normal controls. Urinary KIM-1, NGAL, and MCP-1 levels were measured by ELISA and their correlations with clinical and histological features were assessed. Receiver operating characteristic curves were performed and the Cox regression model was applied to identify prognostic factors associated with renal outcomes.ResultsActive lupus nephritis patients exhibited elevated urinary levels of KIM-1, NGAL, and MCP-1 compared with lupus nephritis patients in remission (P < 0.001) and normal controls (P < 0.001). The urinary KIM-1 level was correlated with pathological tubular atrophy (r = 0.208, P < 0.05) and increased significantly in the presence of interstitial...