Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Interferon-γ release assay as an emergent powerful biomarker in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors' conclusion
The IGRA-PHA assay appears to be a powerful and independent biomarker for clinically active SLE, when performed at the initiation or intensification of therapy, and as a predictor of treatment-induced remission at therapy evaluation.
Study context
- Population
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients at various disease stages, single tertiary care centre, 2008–2024
- Participants
- 145 patients
- Exposure
- Active vs inactive SLE; IGRA-PHA vs IGRA-nil as biomarkers
- Outcome
- Ex vivo IGRA as a biomarker of SLE activity and disease outcome
Methodological detailssingle-centre, tertiary care centre
- Single-centre
- Tertiary care centre
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Prediction of clinically inactive SLE
| Group | AUC | Optimal Youden index cut-off | 100% specificity for active disease |
|---|---|---|---|
| IGRA-PHA | 0.853 | ≥ 8.0 IU/ml | <1.6 IU/ml |
| IGRA-nil | 0.722 |
AUC
IGRA-PHA0.853
IGRA-nil0.722
Optimal Youden index cut-off
IGRA-PHA≥ 8.0 IU/ml
IGRA-nil— not stated in the abstract
100% specificity for active disease
IGRA-PHA<1.6 IU/ml
IGRA-nil— not stated in the abstract
- Spontaneous IFN-γ release (IGRA-nil) increased in active SLE
- P = 0.0004
- PHA-induced IFN-γ release (IGRA-PHA) decreased in active SLE, regardless of treatment incl. GC
- P < 10-4
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
IGRA-PHA ≥ 8.0 IU/ml as independent predictor of clinically inactive SLE (multivariate regression)
| OR (95% CI) | P value | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| IGRA-PHA ≥ 8.0 IU/ml | 10.6 (3.72–30.17) | P = 9.7 × 10-6 | |
| 0.050.21520Odds ratio (log scale) |
Time to remission
- IGRA-PHA ≤1.6 IU/ml associated with longer time to remission (log-rank test)
- P = 2.4 × 10-6
Clinical manifestations
- Nephritis, serositis, constitutional symptoms, mucocutaneous and musculoskeletal manifestations associated with impaired IGRA-PHA release
- P < 0.05 for each association
Original publication
Interferon-γ release assay as an emergent powerful biomarker in systemic lupus erythematosus. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 29 May 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →