EC Clinical and Medical Case Reports

Aims: The B cell Activating Factor (BAFF) is implicated as a key cytokine in precancerous autoimmune disease of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, SLE. The objective of the work was to determine the significance of BAFF in SLE glucocorticoid therapy.

Methods and Results: The study was performed in two groups of patients: 1 - treatment using different dose of glucocorticoids, GCs; 2 - conventional treatment. The BAFF measurement in blood was done using the ELISA method. BAFF values were higher in patients with GCs ≥ 50.0 mg/day, with a mean of 2,844 pg/ml ± 1,495; and in patients with GCs < 50.0 mg/day, the mean was 2,422 ± 1,280. The mean BAFF of the control group was 0.990 pg/ml. The difference between these two groups is statistically significant, using the non-parametric Mann Whitney test, with p < 0.001.

Discussion and Conclusion: The immune mechanism of GCs therapy is discussed in the aspect of BAFF related B and T cells, and in coordination with immunotherapy and nanotechnology. Described study constitutes the novel contribution to SLE treatment using the rapid evaluation of serum BAFF level as the biomarker of GCs therapy.

Keywords: (MeSH); Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Systemic (LES); Glucocorticoids (Gcs); B-Cell Activating Factor (BAFF); Cytokines; IGF-I; B and T Lymphocytes

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