Plasma C4d levels correlate with treatment response and renal activity in proliferative lupus nephritis.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

The investigation of complement factors in lupus nephritis (LN) in relation to treatment response and the impact of underlying genetics of C4.

Methods

Seventy-seven patients with active LN confirmed by a kidney biopsy and in whom second biopsies had been performed after immunosuppressive treatment were included. Complement factors C3, C4, C4d and C4d/C4 ratio were evaluated at the biopsy time points. The gene copy number variations of C4 (C4A and C4B) were also investigated.

Results

At baseline, 60 patients had class III/IV±V, proliferative LN (PLN) and 17 class V, membranous LN (MLN). Levels of C3 and C4 increased and C4d and C4d/C4 decreased after treatment (P < 0.0001), observed in treatment-responding PLN patients but not in MLN. C4d, C4 and C4d/C4 at se

SUBMITTER: Zickert A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12316364 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature