AUTHOR=Umezawa Natsuka , Mizoguchi Fumitaka , Maejima Yasuhiro , Kimura Naoki , Hasegawa Hisanori , Hosoya Tadashi , Fujimoto Minoru , Kohsaka Hitoshi , Naka Tetsuji , Yasuda Shinsuke 

TITLE=Leucine-rich alpha-2 glycoprotein as a potential biomarker for large vessel vasculitides

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Medicine

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2023

YEAR=2023

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2023.1153883

DOI=10.3389/fmed.2023.1153883

ISSN=2296-858X

ABSTRACT=Objectives: Serum levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) have been used as useful biomarkers for reflecting activity of large vessel vasculitides (LVV). However, a novel biomarker which could have a complementary role to these markers is still required. In this retrospective observational study, we investigated whether leucine-rich α-2 glycoprotein (LRG), a known biomarker in several inflammatory diseases, could be a novel biomarker for LVVs. Methods: Forty-nine eligible patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK) or giant cell arteritis (GCA) whose serum was preserved in our laboratory were enrolled. The concentrations of LRG were measured with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The clinical course was reviewed retrospectively from their medical records. The disease activity was determined according to the current consensus definition. Results: The serum LRG levels were higher in patients with active disease than those in remission, and decreased after the treatments. While LRG levels were positively correlated with both CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate, LRG exhibited inferior performance as an indicator of disease activity compared to CRP and ESR. Eleven out of 35 CRP-negative patients had positive LRG. Among the 11 patients, two had active disease. Conclusions: This preliminary study indicated that LRG could be a novel biomarker for LVV. Further large study should be required to promise the significance of LRG in LVV.