The Role of AntiPLA2R Antibody in Autoimmune Kidney Disease

A new study published in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology has recovered the role of antiPLA2R antibody in predicting the prognosis of idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

The study is conducted by Dr. Hofstra, Dr. Debiec, Dr. Brenchley and other researchers. They compared two different blood tests measuring antiPLA2R autoantibodies in 117 patients with idiopathic membraneous nephropathy. And it has been found that the level of antiPLA2R antibody has much to do with the disease severity and remission rate.

Idiopathic membraneous nephropathy is an autoimmune kidney disease which will finally develop into renal failure if not handled well. The conventional treatment for idiopathic membraneous nephropathy and other immune diseases are immunosuppressant which is effective in alleviating symptoms. However long term taking immunosuppressant can cause many side effects. And it has long been a medical puzzle as to when to start the therapy and how long should the therapy last. Better indicators are need to guide the treatment.
The finding of antiPLA2R antibody has made a breakthrough in this regard. AntiPLA2R can be detected in simple blood test and it can help provide guidance, predict the prognosis and improve curative effects for patients with idiopathic membraneous nephropathy. What is more, this study provides research directions for other immune diseases.