Table 3

Serum levels of APRIL and activity score from the renal histological outcomes.

Percentage of glomeruli with the lesions

Blood APRIL≤4 ng/ml

Blood APRIL > 4 ng/ml

P value

Endocapillary proliferation

40.99 ± 6.76

64.87 ± 8.6

0.033*

Fibrinoid necrosis

4.69 ± 2.15

12.66 ± 4.1

0.012*

Neutrophil infiltration

16.47 ± 4.85

49.59 ± 8.95

0.004*

Hyaline deposit

22.74 ± 7.37

27.65 ± 7.36

0.609

Cellular crescent

12.38 ± 3.49

15.12 ± 4.27

0.620

*The cutoff level for blood APRIL was 4 ng/ml. This cutoff value was obtained from the average blood levels of APRIL from all patients studied. APRIL, a proliferation-inducing ligand.

Treamtrakanpon et al. Arthritis Research & Therapy 2012 14:R252   doi:10.1186/ar4095