Novel Biomarker May Predict Development of Lupus Enteritis in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Anti-ganglionic nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (gAChR) antibody may be used as a novel biomarker for lupus enteritis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to study results presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2021, held virtually from November 3 to 10, 2021.

Although previous studies have shown that anti-gAChR antibody may be detected in several autoimmune diseases, including SLE, the clinical significance of this antibody has not been clearly understood yet.

The objective of the current study was to compare the clinical manifestation of patients with SLE with the anti-gAChR antibody.

Measurement of serum anti-gAChR α3 and β4 subunits was conducted using a luciferase immunoprecipitation assay.

The retrospective study included 144 patients with SLE from the Hokkaido University Hospital in Japan from 2007 through 2019. Of these patients, 31.9% had neuropsychiatric SLE, 22.2% has antiphospholipid syndrome, 18.8% had pericarditis or pleuritis, and 14.6% had lupus enteritis.

Antibodies directed against the gAChR α3 and β4 subunits were identified in 29 (20.1%) and 8 (5.6%) patients, respectively.

Prevalence of lupus enteritis was higher among patients with anti-gAChR α3 antibody compared with those without the antibody (37.9% vs 8.7%, respectively; P <.001). Treatment with immunosuppression was associated with a significant reduction in the levels of the antibody (P =.001) in patients with lupus enteritis.

Using logistic regression analysis, the researchers identified anti-gAChR α3 antibody (odds ratio, 11.1; 95% CI, 3.4-36.2; P <.001) and lupus cystitis (odds ratio, 16.3; 95% CI, 2.07-127.8; P =.006) as independent predictors of lupus enteritis. At 10 years, patients with vs without the anti-gAChR α3 were at a significantly increased risk for relapse of lupus enteritis (27.0% vs 2.3%, respectively; P <.001).

“Anti-gAChRα3 antibody would be a new biomarker for the development and recurrence of [lupus enteritis] in patients with SLE, “the researchers concluded.

Disclosure: Some study authors declared affiliations with biotech, pharmaceutical, and/or device companies. Please see the original reference for a full list of disclosures.

Reference

Aso K, Kono M, Ninagawa K, et al. Anti-gAChR antibody as a novel biomarker for lupus enteritis in systemic lupus erythematosus. Presented at: ACR Convergence 2021; November 3-10, 2021.