Serum progranulin levels are elevated in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, reflecting disease activity

Table 1 Associations between systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-related serologic and clinical features and titer of progranulin (PGRN)

Feature	Number	Mean PGRN (95% confidence interval)		P
		Positive ^a	Negative ^a
Serologic feature^b	Positive/negative
Anti-Sm	25/17	111.8 (93.4-130.1)	94.1 (56.5-131.7)	0.381^c
Anti-nRNP	23/12	128.9 (102.7-155.0)	74.9 (53.5-96.3)	0.002^c
Anti-Ro	26/13	102.7 (79.6-125.8)	105.6 (67.6-143.6)	0.888
Anti-CL	20/24	112.4 (84.0-140.8)	87.4 (65.2-109.6)	0.150
Clinical features^d
0	22	51.3 (34.5-68.1)		<0.001^ef
1-2	31	91.8 (81.1-102.5)		<0.001^e
3-8	15	132.3 (113.1-151.5)		0.005^g

anti-Sm, anti-Smith antibody; anti-nRNP, anti-ribonucleoprotein antibody; anti-Ro, anti-Ro/SS-A antibody; anti-CL, anti-cardiolipin antibody. ^aSLE patients with (present) or without (absent) the clinical features of SLE. ^bSeveral observations with missing values. ^cWelch t test. ^dNumber of positive clinical features including malar rash/discoid rash, alopecia, oral or nasal ulcers, serositis, arthritis, active nephritis, CNS (central nervous system) lupus, vasculitis, temperature >38°C, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia, anemia. ^eAs compared with three to eight clinical features (one-way analysis of variance followed by the Bonferroni test). ^fAs compared with one to two clinical features (one-way analysis of variance followed by the Bonferroni test). ^gP for trend.

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