Fig. 3

IgG autoreactivity to MDA adducts is elevated in SLE patients with active disease and in patients with lupus nephritis. Levels of immunoglobulin G (IgG) anti-malondialdehyde (MDA) protein adducts in proportion to total IgG were significantly increased in patients with active SLE disease and in patients with nephritis. a–c Serum total IgG, and ELISA-determined IgG anti-MDA and IgG anti-phosphorylcholine (PC) levels normalized for total IgG were compared in 270 SLE patients with less disease activity and 126 SLE patients with active disease determined by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) ≥ 6. d–f Total IgG, IgG anti-PC/total IgG, and IgG anti-MDA/total IgG were compared in SLE patients with no history of nephritis (n = 241) to patients with nephritis (n = 148). The nephritis patient group included all patients with a history of nephritis, independent off status at the time of the visit. g–i Total IgG, IgG anti-PC/total IgG, and IgG anti-MDA/total IgG were compared in SLE patients with no history of renal disease (British Isles Lupus Activity Group (BILAG) E; n = 228), patients with nephritis in remission (BILAG D; n = 48), and patients with active nephritis (BILAG A–C; n = 41). P values are presented for Mann-Whitney analysis (a–f) or Kruskal-Wallis test with Dunn’s correction for multiple comparisons (g–i). NS not significant, RU relative units