Healio Rheumatology featured a recent study by HSS rheumatologist Jane E. Salmon, MD, that found that increased plasma levels of complements Bb and sC5b-9 are predictive of adverse outcomes among pregnant women with lupus.

According to the article, Dr. Salmon and her colleagues reviewed data from the PROMISSE study, Predictors of Pregnancy Outcome: Biomarkers in Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Dr. Salmon noted that this study confirms past research that has implicated inflammation, particularly complement activation and recruitment of neutrophils, as a causative factor in placental insufficiency, fetal loss and growth restriction.

Additionally, Dr. Salmon said that "although our findings cannot now be used to identify women at risk in the clinic, because the tests these measuring complement activation products are only available for research and they don't have the sensitivity or specificity to be used alone to predict outcome, the identification of biomarkers associated with risk in pregnant patients with lupus or aPL will allow identification of specific patients for trials targeting complement and downstream mediators."

Read the full article at healio.com [registration required].