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  • Correlation of serum level of high mobility group box 1 with the burden of granulomatous inflammation in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's)

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Clinical and epidemiological research
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Correlation of serum level of high mobility group box 1 with the burden of granulomatous inflammation in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener's)
  1. F O Henes1,
  2. Y Chen2,4,
  3. TA Bley1,
  4. M Fabel3,
  5. M Both3,
  6. K Herrmann2,
  7. E Csernok2,
  8. WL Gross2,
  9. F Moosig2
  1. 1Center for Radiology and Endoscopy, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
  2. 2Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Vasculitis Center, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Luebeck and Klinikum Bad Bramstedt, Germany
  3. 3Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany
  4. 4Deptartment of Rheumatology, Ningbo No. 1 Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, China
  1. Correspondence to Dr Frank Oliver Henes, Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Martinistrasse 52, 20246 Hamburg, Germany; f.henes{at}uke.uni-hamburg.de

Abstract

Objectives To investigate the correlation of serum levels of high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) with the extent of granulomatous inflammation in granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA).

Methods From 169 patients with GPA, 17 patients with granulomatous inflammation, without evidence of vasculitis were identified and 36 patients without measurable ‘granuloma’ formation. HMGB1 serum levels were determined and compared between the two groups, using a Mann–Whitney U test. Serum levels of 26 healthy individuals served as controls. In a further 21 patients with GPA with a pulmonary granulomatous manifestation from the study population, CT volumetry of ‘granuloma’ was performed. Volumes were compared with serum levels of HMGB1 (Spearman rank order test).

Results Serum levels of HMGB1 were significantly higher in patients with predominant granulomatous disease than in patients without measurable ‘granuloma’ manifestations (6.44±4.53 ng/ml vs 3.85±2.88 ng/ml; p=0.0107). In both groups, levels of HMGB1 were significantly higher than in controls (2.34±2.01 ng/ml; p<0.01). A positive correlation of HMGB1 serum levels with volumes of pulmonary ‘granuloma’ (r=0.761, p<0.0017) was seen.

Conclusions HMGB1 serum levels are significantly higher in GPA with predominant granulomatous manifestations and correlate with volumes of pulmonary ‘granuloma’. HMGB1 may be used as a marker of the burden of granulomatous inflammation in GPA.

https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2010.146456

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    Footnotes

    • Funding This work was supported by a grant from the ‘Stiftung Wolfgang Schulz’ and by the DFG KFO170.

    • Ethics approval This study was conducted with the approval of the ethics committee of the University of Lübeck, Germany.

    • Provenance and peer review Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.