Table 2

sRANKL, OPG and sRANKL/OPG ratio levels in SLE patients and healthy controls

SLE patients

Healthy controls

P-value

sRANKL

0.40 (0.02 to 25.99)

0.40 (0.29 to 67.64)

0.372

OPG

69.02 (17.42 to 500.90)

95.14 (1.56 to 1069.13)

< 0.001

sRANKL/OPG ratio

0.0103 (0.001 to 0.817)

0.0056 (0.000 to 1.866)

0.010

Values represent median (IQR). Differences were assessed by non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test.

In 49.5% of SLE patients and 63.2% of healthy controls, the sRANKL levels were below the limit of detection (LOD) of the quantification method. Regarding OPG quantification, there were no samples with concentrations below the LOD.

IQR, interquartile range; OPG, osteoprotegerin; SLE, Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; sRANKL, soluble RANKL

Carmona-Fernandes et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2011 13:R175   doi:10.1186/ar3500