Serum Levels of BAFF and APRIL Predict Clinical Response in Anti-PLA2R-Positive Primary Membranous Nephropathy

Figure 2

BAFF/BLyS and APRIL baseline serum levels in PMN patients and in controls. (a) BAFF/BLyS baseline serum levels in PMN patients with anti-PLA2R antibodies are significantly higher than those in patients without anti-PLA2R antibodies ( vs. , ; white and gray histogram, respectively), while no significant difference was observed with those from patients with lupus nephritis (, ; dark gray histogram). Finally, in healthy volunteers, BAFF/BLyS was detected at very low concentration (, vs. PLA2R-negative patients; black histogram). (b) APRIL baseline serum levels in PMN patients with anti-PLA2R antibodies are significantly higher than those in patients without anti-PLA2R antibodies ( vs. , ; white and gray histogram, respectively), while no significant difference was observed with those from patients with lupus nephritis (, ; dark gray histogram). Finally, in healthy volunteers, APRIL was detected at very low concentration (, vs. PLA2R-negative patients; black histogram). Mann-Whitney test for nonparametric data. Data in the graphs are expressed as .

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