BAFF level increased in patients with autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

INTRODUCTION BAFF (B-cell activating factor of the TNF family), an important regulator of B-cell, has been observed to be over-expressed in a variety of autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is an acquired autoimmune disease occurred when antibodies directed against autologous red blood cells. We assessed serum levels of BAFF in AIHA patients with different serological characteristics. METHODS Serum BAFF levels were measured in 44 AIHA patients with different direct antiglobulin test (DAT) results and 25 healthy controls. The correlation of BAFF expression with DAT results and serological characteristics was assessed. RESULTS Serum levels of BAFF in AIHA patients were significantly higher than in healthy subjects (AIHA: 1382.7 ± 1412.8 pg/ml, healthy control: 725.0 ± 415.7 pg/ml, P = 0.0057). Serum BAFF levels were significantly higher in patients with IgG(+)C3(+) or IgG(+) than healthy controls (DAT: negative) (P = 0.012, 0.004, respectively). No significant correlations were presented between serum BAFF levels and four serological parameters: hemoglobine, percentage of reticulocyte, total serum bilirubin, and lactate dehydrogenase. CONCLUSIONS AIHA patients present higher serum BAFF levels than healthy controls, especially for those of IgG(+)C3(+) DAT result. This might lead to a new approach of AIHA treatment.