Publications
Find coverage of the latest original articles on Lupus, focusing on those with data on therapeutic interventions and those that have clinical impact.
This activity is supported by an educational grant from AstraZeneca.
July 2023
Update on the Efficacy and Safety Profile of Voclosporin: An Integrated Analysis of Clinical Trials in Lupus Nephritis
Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2023 Jul;75(7):1399–1408 DOI: 10.1002/acr.25007
Pooled analysis of data from the AURA-LV phase 2 and AURORA 1 phase 3 trials of voclosporin in patients with active LN demonstrated that significantly more patients achieved a complete renal response at 1 year in the voclosporin than the control group (p<0.0001), with no observation of new safety signals.
Medication Cost Concerns and Disparities in Patient-reported Outcomes Among a Multiethnic Cohort of Patients with Lupus
J Rheumatol. 2023 Jun 15:jrheum.2023-0060 DOI: 10.3899/jrheum.2023-0060
An analysis of the California Lupus Epidemiology Study cohort demonstrated that more than a quarter of participants reported at least one medication cost concern, which was associated with worse patient-reported outcomes. These results reveal a potentially modifiable risk factor for poor outcomes rooted in the unaffordability of lupus care.
June 2023
Early Infection Risk in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Treated with Rituximab or Belimumab from the British Isles Lupus Assessment Group Biologics Register (BILAG-BR): A Prospective Longitudinal Study
Lancet Rheumatol 2023;5:e284–92 doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(23)00091-7
Data from a large prospective registry (BILAG-BR) highlight that, compared with standard of care, the serious infection risk was similar between rituximab and belimumab.
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Clinical and biomarker responses to BI 655064, an antagonistic anti-CD40 antibody, in patients with active lupus nephritis: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase II trial
Arthritis Rheumatol. 2023;75(11):1983–93 doi: 10.1002/art.42557.
This phase II study of BI 655064 in patients with active LN did not meet the primary endpoint of CRR at Week 52, however, post-hoc analyses suggest a potential benefit of BI 655064 180 mg in patients with active LN.
Belimumab and antimalarials combined against renal flares in patients treated for extra-renal systemic lupus erythematosus: results from 4 phase III clinical trials
Rheumatology (Oxford) 2023;63(2):338–48 doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead253
The protection conferred from belimumab against renal flare development in patients treated for extra-renal SLE appears enhanced when administered along with antimalarials (AMA).
Remission of Lupus Nephritis: The Trajectory of Histological Response in Successfully Treated Patients
Lupus Sci Med. 2023;10(1):e000932 doi: 10.1136/lupus-2023-000932
LN histological activity takes months to years to resolve, providing a rationale for the need of long-term, well-tolerated maintenance immunosuppression.
May 2023
Development of American College of Rheumatology Quality Measures for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Modified Delphi Process with RISE Registry Data Review
Arthritis Care Res (Hoboken). 2023 doi: 10.1002/acr.25143
The first ACR quality measures for SLE selected by Bartels, et al. use a rigorous Delphi process, and include recommendations on hydroxychloroquine, glucocorticoid reduction and kidney monitoring.
Belimumab Versus Anifrolumab in Adults with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: An Indirect Comparison of Clinical Response at 52 Weeks
Lupus Sci. Med 2023;10:e000907 doi 10.1136/lupus-2023-000907
This retrospective study by Neupane, et al. compared belimumab and anifrolumab efficacy at 52 weeks in SLE patients. It concluded that belimumab and anifrolumab have equal efficacy, but further studies would be needed for specific patient demographics.
Machine Learning Identifies Clusters of Longitudinal Autoantibody Profiles Predictive of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Outcomes
Ann Rheum Dis 2023;82(7):927–36 doi 10.1136/ard-2022-223808
Choi, et al. used machine clustering techniques to divide SLE patients into four distinct clusters. This could potentially be used to predict future clinical outcomes, and as benchmarks to study other SLE-related outcomes.
Litifilimab (BIIB059), a Promising Investigational Drug for Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus
Expert Opin Investig Drugs 2023;15:1-9 doi 10.1080/13543784.2023.2212154
Cho, et al. discuss the current challenges in the approval of CLE drugs and suggest outcome measures that could streamline the process. They also discuss the pharmacodynamics of litifilimab and the current status of clinical trials.