Global gene expression profiles in whole blood total RNA from patients with lupus nephritis, before and after initiation of therapy

Global gene expression studies were performed in serial whole blood samples from SLE patients with a renal BILAG A prior to, 3 months, and 6 months after initiation of conventional immunosuppressive therapy (induction with high-dose corticosteroids, IV cyclophosphamide or oral mycophenolate during the first 3 months, followed by maintenance with moderate- to low-dose corticosteroids, azathioprine or mycophenolate). The expression of IFN-induced genes was analyzed, in comparison to global and renal indices of disease activity.