Prediction of Lupus Renal Flares Study

Prediction of Lupus Renal Flares Study

In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, urinary CD4+ T cells may have the potential to predict subsequent renal flares in the next 6 months. Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus from our outpatient clinic will be included in this cross-sectional, prospective biomarker study regardless of disease activity, clinical phenotype, and disease duration or baseline therapy. Urinary T cells will be analyzed by flow cytometry. 6 months after sample collection a clinical follow-up will be conducted to assess the occurrence of either recurrent or de novo renal flares.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Informed consent
• Diagnosis of SLE according to the 2019 EULAR/ACR classification criteria Stable immunosuppressive or biologic background therapy within the last 6 months prior to inclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

• Age < 18
• Inability to consent
• Urinary tract infection (defined by detection of nitrite or positive urine culture)
• Patients on chronic dialysis
• Concomitant other autoimmune disease