Efficacy of BAFF in Monitoring Treatment Response in Early Vietnamese Systemic Sclerosis Patients

Vu Nguyen Minh; Khang Tran Hau; Matushita Takashi; Vinh Nguyen Ha; Long Hoang Bao; My Le Huyen; Doanh Le Huu; Thuong Nguyen Van; Marco Gandolfi; Francesca Satolli; Claudio Feliciani; Michael Tirant; Aleksandra Vojvodic; Torello Lotti

doi:10.3889/oamjms.2019.070

Authors

Vu Nguyen Minh National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, Hanoi, Vietnam; Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Khang Tran Hau National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, Hanoi, Vietnam; Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Matushita Takashi Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa University, Kindai, Japan
Vinh Nguyen Ha National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, Hanoi, Vietnam; Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam; Department of Dermatology, Kanazawa University, Kindai, Japan
Long Hoang Bao Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Hanoi, Vietnam
My Le Huyen National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, Hanoi, Vietnam
Doanh Le Huu National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, Hanoi, Vietnam; Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Thuong Nguyen Van National Hospital of Dermatology and Venereology, Hanoi, Vietnam; Hanoi Medical University, Hanoi, Vietnam
Marco Gandolfi Unit of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
Francesca Satolli Unit of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
Claudio Feliciani Unit of Dermatology, University of Parma, Parma, Italy
Michael Tirant University of Rome G. Marconi, Rome, Italy; Psoriasis Eczema Clinic, Melbourne, Australia
Aleksandra Vojvodic Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Military Medical Academy of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
Torello Lotti University of Rome G. Marconi, Rome, Italy

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3889/oamjms.2019.070

Keywords:

BAFF, Systemic Sclerosis

Abstract

BACKGROUND: B-cell activating factor (BAFF) is considered to have a role in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis (SSc).

AIM: We conducted a longitudinal study on early SSc patients to determine the change in BAFF serum level after treatment and its association with organ involvements.

METHODS: A total of 46 patients (32 diffuse, 14 limited) were recruited, among which 35 patients (24 diffuse, 11 limited) completed 12-month follow-up.

RESULTS: Higher pretreatment BAFF levels were observed in patients with positive anti-topoisomerase antibody (ATA) (2252.1 Â± 899.7 pg/ml versus 1475.5 Â± 697.6 pg/ml in ATA-negative patients; p = 0.01) and muscular involvement (2741.9 Â± 1039.9 pg/ml versus 1897.2 Â± 762.9 pg/ml in patients without muscular involvement; p = 0.005). Lower levels were observed in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) (1926.7 Â± 757.9 pg/ml versus 2721.6 Â± 1131.4 pg/ml in non-ILD patients; p = 0.01). After treatment, BAFF level reduced significantly in diffuse SSc patients (1652.2 Â± 892.7 pg/ml versus 2147.6 Â± 945.5 pg/ml before treatment; p = 0.03).

CONCLUSION: Patients with worsening outcome had the highest pretreatment BAFF level and was associated with increased BAFF level after treatment. BAFF can be used to predict and monitor patientsâ€™ response to therapy.

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