Ultrasensitive Quantitation of Anti-Phospholipase A2 Receptor Antibody as A Diagnostic and Prognostic Indicator of Idiopathic Membranous Nephropathy

Sci Rep. 2017 Sep 21;7(1):12049. doi: 10.1038/s41598-017-12014-1.

Abstract

Anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody (PLA2R-Ab) is useful for affirming the diagnosis of idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN). Time-resolved fluoroimmunoassay (TRFIA) is highly sensitive and quantitative for measuring serum PLA2R-Ab immunoglobulin (IgG). We measured PLA2R-Ab levels with TRFIA in sera from 172 patients with IMN (n = 69), secondary MN (n = 9), and those with other glomerulonephritis (n = 94) at the time of renal biopsy compared to healthy controls (n = 286). Serum anti-PLA2R-IgG levels in healthy volunteers ranged from 0.09-0.91 mg/L. We set the cutoff value of the anti-PLA2R-IgG titer at 0.91 mg/L, with a sensitivity of 84.06% for diagnosing IMN. Increasing the cut-off value to 2.025 mg/L altered the sensitivity for diagnosing IMN to 71.01%, but with 100% specificity. IMN patients had significantly higher serum anti-PLA2R-IgG levels compared to those with secondary MN. PLA2R-Ab titers negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Patinets with high titers had significantly lower serum albumin and eGFR, higher proteinuria and serum creatinine levels, accompanied by a lower complete remission rate. High titers of PLA2R-Ab were associated with poor prognosis of patients with IMN. TRFIA-based quantification of anti-PLA2R-IgG can be a reliable approach for the diagnosis and prognostication of patients with IMN.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Autoantibodies / blood
  • Autoantibodies / immunology*
  • Biomarkers / blood
  • Female
  • Fluoroimmunoassay / methods
  • Glomerular Filtration Rate / immunology
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / blood
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / diagnosis*
  • Glomerulonephritis, Membranous / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Immunoglobulin G / immunology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Receptors, Phospholipase A2 / immunology*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity

Substances

  • Autoantibodies
  • Biomarkers
  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Receptors, Phospholipase A2