Table 2.
Laboratory assessment of immunologic and inflammatory disease activity at admission and at follow-up 8 weeks later showing serologic phenotype and response to therapy.
| Immunologic parameter (units, where applicable) | Reference range | Admission value | Postdischarge follow-up value |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESR (mm/hr) | 0–20 | 35 | 46 |
| CRP (mg/L) | 0.1–3.0 | 27.9 | 9.2 |
| C3 (mg/dL) | 88–145 | 33 | 128 |
| C4 (mg/dL) | 16–39 | <10 | 22 |
| ANA titer | <1 : 40 | >1 : 10,240∧ | 1 : 2,560 |
| Anti-dsDNA Ab∗ (IU/mL) | <12.5 | 25.7 | <12.5 |
| Anti-centromere Ab | <1 : 40 | <1 : 40 | |
| Anti-SCL70 | Negative | Negative | |
| Anti-La Ab | Negative | Negative | |
| Anti-Ro Ab | Negative | Positive | |
| Anti-Smith Ab∗ | Negative | Positive | |
| Anti-RNP Ab∗∗ | Negative | Positive | |
| Anti-cardiolipin Ab∗∗ (CU) | <20 | 10.6 | |
| Beta-2 glycoprotein (CU) | <20 | 14.9 |
∧Speckled pattern. ∗Patients positive for anti-dsDNA and anti-Smith had better response to immunosuppressive therapy during an SLE-associated PAH flare [10]. ∗∗Anti-RNP and anti-cardiolipin positivity correlates with evidence of PH on echocardiogram [11]. Ab: antibody; ESR: erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP: C-reactive protein; ANA: antinuclear antibody; dsDNA: double-stranded DNA; RNP: ribonucleoprotein.