Etiopathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus: molecular interactions and immune response
Keywords:
Systemic lupus erythematosus, Immune response, Amino acid metabolism, AutoantibodiesAbstract
Currently, establishing an accurate clinical diagnosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) represents a challenge in the Ecuadorian context, as in most cases, this is done when the disease has reached an advanced stage. Due to this situation, the medical community has directed its efforts to identify additional biomarkers in the bloodstream that facilitate early detection, beyond the presence of traditional antinuclear antibodies. In this study, adapted to the clinical reality of Ecuador, serum arginine levels were analyzed in clinically healthy individuals and in patients diagnosed with SLE at different referral hospitals in the country. The analyses revealed arginine concentrations ranging from 4 to 17 mg/dL in healthy individuals, while in SLE patients, levels ranged from 0.0 to 11 mg/dL. It is important to note that 77% of Ecuadorian patients diagnosed with SLE presented a significant reduction in arginine levels. Additionally, it was found that patients with arginine levels below 6 mg/dL also had elevated antinuclear antibody titers, suggesting a possible correlation between the two parameters. These findings represent a valuable contribution to the understanding of SLE in Ecuador and reinforce the hypothesis that serum arginine measurement may be a useful complementary tool in the comprehensive diagnosis of this autoimmune disease.
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