The use of a lateral flow assay (LFA) to periodically monitor CD166 antigen (ALCAM) levels in the urine of patients with lupus nephritis may have a role in diagnosis as well as monitoring patients with the condition, according to a paper published by Lei et al in Frontiers in Immunology. The LFA test—which can be read via smartphone—exhibited “excellent accuracies” in distinguishing patients with active lupus nephritis from healthy controls. It also showed an 86% accuracy in detecting patients with lupus nephritis from other patients with lupus. “A point-of-care testing platform’s importance rests on its potential to empower patients to monitor their health status with convenience, thus allowing for early diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression. The LFA represents the most widely used rapid diagnostic point-of-care testing platform…. Periodic monitoring of urinary ALCAM using this easy-to-use LFA test by the patient at home could potentially accelerate early detection of renal involvement or disease flares in patients [with lupus], and hence reduce morbidity and mortality,” commented the study authors in a companion press release from the University of Houston.
May 25, 2023