Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
CD163: a potential biomarker for lupus nephritis activity
Authors' conclusion
uCD163 distinguishes active LN from inactive renal and extra-renal disease and tracks treatment response.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (active lupus nephritis (LN), inactive LN, active extra-renal SLE) and matched healthy controls45 SLE patients plus 20 controls
- Participants
- 20 / 10 / 15 / 20
- Exposure
- uCD163 in active LN vs inactive LN vs active extra-renal SLE vs healthy controls
- Active LNn = 20
- Inactive LNn = 10
- Active extra-renal SLEn = 15
- Healthy controlsn = 20reference
- Outcome
- Soluble CD163 levels (serum and urine) and intrarenal CD163 expression and their association with disease activity and treatment response in LN
Methodological detailsmatched healthy controls, 6-month follow-up subset
- Matched healthy controls
- 6-month follow-up subset
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
uCD163 discrimination of active LN · baseline
| Group | AUC vs inactive LN | AUC vs extra-renal SLE |
|---|---|---|
| Active LN | 0.97 | 0.89 |
Active LN
AUC vs inactive LN0.97
AUC vs extra-renal SLE0.89
- Active LN vs Inactive LN: P < 0.001 — uCD163 higher in active LN
- Active LN vs Active extra-renal SLE: P < 0.001 — uCD163 higher in active LN
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Correlations of uCD163 and glomerular CD163+ macrophage density
- uCD163 vs NIH activity index
- ρ=0.55, p=0.016
- uCD163 vs glomerular CD163+ macrophage density
- ρ=0.65, p=0.006
- Glomerular CD163+ macrophage density vs sCD163
- ρ=0.60, p=0.01
- Glomerular CD163+ macrophage density vs uCD163
- ρ=0.63, p=0.009
- uCD163 vs chronicity index: no correlation
uCD163 change after induction (active LN) · 6 months
- uCD163 fell from 7.41 to 1.55 ng/mg
- P < 0.001
- 12 active LN patients with follow-up samples
Original publication
CD163: a potential biomarker for lupus nephritis activity. Lupus Sci Med. Published 10 August 2026. doi:10.
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