Urinary VCAM -1 as a renal disease activity indicator and lifestyle factors affecting the disease activity in lupus nephritis: A Diagnostic Case Control Study

OBJECTIVES : 1. To study the utility of urinary levels of VCAM-1 in lupus nephritis. 2. To study the association between lifestyle factors and disease activity of lupus nephritis. METHODOLOGY : It was a diagnostic case control study. The patients presenting to Medicine, Nephrology and Rheumatology OPD were recruited into this study. Patients were divided into 2 groups, SLE without active nephritis and SLE with active nephritis based on the renal SLEDAI. Urinary VCAM1 was tested in all patients using an early morning spot urine sample. Renal biopsy was done in those patients with active nephritis. All patients underwent a lifestyle assessment including dietary, stress and physical activity.VCAM1 levels were compared with the renal SLEDAI, renal biopsy disease activity and standard of care markers. The lifestyle factors were also compared with the disease activity.The results were analyzed using SPSS software version 16. A 2x2 analysis for the diagnostic test was done. The validity an...