O QUE É O LÚPUS? É uma doença auto-imune, em que o sistema imune ou imunológico – o sistema constituído pelas células, como os linfócitos e mediadores como os anticorpos -, que normalmente protege o nosso corpo, se vira contra si próprio e o ataca, provocando inflamação e alteração da função do órgão afectado. A inflamação pode provocar dor, calor, vermelhidão [...]
Introduction: Identification of patients who are in early stages of lupus is currently done through clinical evaluation and is not greatly facilitated by available diagnostic tests. Profiling for patient characteristics and antibody specificities that predict disease would enhance the ability of physicians to identify and treat early cases prior to onset of organ damaging illness. Methods: A group [...]
Introduction: In a recent screening to detect biomarkers in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), expression of the iron storage protein, ferritin, was increased. Given that proteins that regulate the storage, transfer and release of iron play an important role in inflammation, this study aims to determine the serum and urine levels of ferritin and of the iron transfer protein, transferrin, [...]
