Publications
Find coverage of the latest original articles on Lupus, focusing on those with data on therapeutic interventions and those that have clinical impact.
May 2022
High Systemic Type I Interferon Activity Is Associated with Active Class III/IV Lupus Nephritis
The Journal of Rheumatology 2022; 49:388–97 DOI 10.3899/jrheum.210391
Iwamoto, et al. aimed to determine the association of serum IFN activity with subtypes of lupus nephritis. This study suggests that systemic high type I IFN in SLE is involved in the pathogenesis of severe class III/IV LN and contributes to severe kidney involvement in European-American patients with SLE. However, this effect was independent of anti‑dsDNA antibody status and complement levels. Expression of type I IFN was not found to be clearly related to plasmacytoid dendritic cell infiltration, although it did directly stimulate podocytes to induce chemokines and molecules related to podocyte injury.
March 2022
Long-Term Results of Triple Immunosuppression With Tacrolimus Added to Mycophenolate and Corticosteroids in the Treatment of Lupus Nephritis
Kidney Int Rep. 2021;7(3):516–25
Analysis of 22 patients with lupus nephritis (LN) demonstrates that triple immunosuppression with the addition of tacrolimus to mycophenolate and prednisolone results in further proteinuria reduction.
Phase II randomised trial of type I interferon inhibitor anifrolumab in patients with active lupus nephritis
Ann Rheum Dis. 2022;81(4):496–506 doi: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-221478
Despite not meeting the primary endpoint, this Phase II trial of anifrolumab in patients with active lupus nephritis (LN) demonstrates that anifrolumab IR is associated with numerical improvements over placebo across endpoints – including complete renal response – in patients with active LN.
A secondary analysis of the Belimumab International Study in Lupus Nephritis trial examined effects of belimumab on kidney outcomes and preservation of kidney function in patients with lupus nephritis
Kidney Int. 2022;101(2):403-413 doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2021.08.027
Post-hoc analysis data suggests that the addition of belimumab to standard therapy may be effective in preserving long-term kidney function in patients with lupus nephritis (LN).
November 2021
B-cell Depletion With Obinutuzumab for the Treatment of Proliferative Lupus Nephritis: A Randomised, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Trial
Ann Rheum Dis. 2021. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2021-220920
Phase 2 study data support the use of obinutuzumab in proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) being further evaluated in a global Phase 3 study.
October 2021
Long-term Outcome Of A Randomised Controlled Trial Comparing Tacrolimus With Mycophenolate Mofetil As Induction Therapy For Active Lupus Nephritis
Ann Rheum Dis 2020;79:1070–6
Tacrolimus is non inferior to MMF as an induction therapy for LN.
Two-Year, Randomised, Controlled Trial of Belimumab in Lupus Nephritis
N Engl J Med. 2020;383(12):1117–28.
LN occurs in 25–60% of patients with SLE. However, patients with LN are often excluded from clinical trials of SLE therapies.
A Randomized, Controlled Double-Blind Study Comparing The Efficacy And Safety Of Dose-Ranging Voclosporin With Placebo In Achieving Remission In Patients With Active Lupus Nephritis
Kidney Int 2019;95:219–31
Calcineurin inhibitors have the potential to increase the likelihood of complete renal remission (CRR) when added to standard-of-care induction therapy for LN.
Immunosuppressive therapy in lupus nephritis: the Euro-Lupus Nephritis Trial, a randomized trial of low-dose versus high-dose intravenous cyclophosphamide.
Arthritis Rheum. 2002;46(8):2121–31.
Cyclophosphamide (with AZA) produces good long-term results in LN.
Mycophenolate Versus Azathioprine As Maintenance Therapy for Lupus Nephritis
N Engl J Med. 2011;365(20):1886–95
MMF was superior to AZA in maintaining a renal response and preventing relapse in patients with LN who had a response to induction therapy.