Osteopontin (OPN) is a protein present in the bone and other tissues. Elevated levels of OPN have been observed in several autoimmune diseases including lupus. Investigators from a group called Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) examined data from 344 people with lupus over the course of five years to determine whether raised OPN is a reliable biomarker for lupus. Specifically, they wanted to know if increased levels of OPN could predict damage; reflect current disease activity; or if increased OPN levels are associated with certain disease phenotypes (characteristics).

“We continuously search for biomarkers that can guide us towards a personalized medicine approach for each patient. To identify patients who are prone to develop damage early is important since these individuals may need even more careful monitoring,” says Christopher Sjöwall, Associate Professor at Linköping University in Sweden, responsible for the new study. “The research confirmed associations of OPN with disease activity and renal involvement, but the results regarding damage prediction were not in line with a previous smaller study.”

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