Protein biomarkers that could lead to earlier and more accurate diagnosis of the autoimmune disease lupus have been identified by University of Pittsburgh researchers."This is the first report of abnormal levels of the protein erythrocyte-C4d in human disease. Abnormally high levels of erythrocyte-C4d and low levels of erythrocyte-CR1 are characteristic of SLE [systemic lupus erythematosus] and combined measurement of the two proteins has high diagnostic sensitivity and specificity for lupus,” study author Dr. Susan Manzi, an associate professor of medicine, epidemiology and dermatology, said in a prepared statement.She and her colleagues identified the protein biomarkers by analyzing blood samples from 100 people with lupus and comparing them to blood samples from healthy people and patients with other diseases.The study appears in the November issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
