Immunological comparison of patients with rheumatoid arthritis with and without nephropathy

Article Abstract:

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a joint disease characterized by inflammation of the joints, stiffness, swelling, overgrowth of cartilage tissue, and pain. It is associated with the production of abnormal immune system factors such as rheumatoid factor, antinuclear antibodies, and circulating immune complexes, as well as altered levels of immunoglobulins (Ig; immune proteins) and complement (proteins that destroy bacteria and other foreign cells). RA may be associated with complications of the kidney, including mesangial nephropathy, disease of the tissue supporting the glomeruli, which filter blood through the kidney; membranous glomerulonephritis, the inflammation of the kidney with the development of membranes; and amyloidosis, the deposition of amyloid, a protein-carbohydrate substance, in the tissue and organs. The levels of various types of Ig, the complement proteins C3 and C4, circulating immune complexes, and antinuclear antibodies, were measured in 56 RA patients with mesangial nephropathy, 13 RA patients with membranous glomerulonephritis, 20 RA patients with amyloidosis, and 35 RA patients without kidney disease. IgA and IgM levels were higher in patients with mesangial nephropathy and amyloidosis than in RA patients without kidney disease. IgA levels were higher in patients with IgA deposits than those without IgA deposits, and highest in patients with IgA glomerulonephritis, which occurred in five percent of RA patients. The results show that circulating immune complexes do not have a major role in kidney disorders associated with RA. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Physiological aspects

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Determination of IgA- and IgM-rheumatoid factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with and without nephropathy

Article Abstract:

The IgA antibodies associated with rheumatoid factor (IgA-RF) do not appear to influence the development of IgA glomerulonephritis (GN) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Researchers examined IgA-RF and IgM-RF blood level trends among 143 patients with RA including 43 with various kidney disorders. IgA-RF levels were actually higher for patients with RA and interstitial pneumonia or vasculitis than those with RA and IgA GN. Kidney disorders found in the 43 patients included mesangial proliferative GN, renal amyloidosis, membranous nephropathy, and tubulointerstitial nephropathy.

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Renal haemodynamic characteristics in patients with lupus nephritis

Article Abstract:

Kidney filtration fraction (FF) may be a useful measure of disease severity in lupus nephritis. Kidney disease can be a complication of systemic lupus erythematosus, an autoimmune condition. Researchers examined kidney function and kidney biopsies of 37 lupus patients during treatment. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) increased from an average of 65 ml/min before treatment to an average of 87 ml/min after treatment, but renal plasma flow (RPF) decreased. A low FF, calculated by dividing GFR by RPF, was associated with more severe kidney disease.

Diagnosis, Systemic lupus erythematosus, Kidney function tests

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