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.
Burden of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Clinical Practice: Baseline Data from the SLE Prospective Observational Cohort Study (SPOCS) by Interferon Gene Signature
Lupus Sci Med. 2023; 10(2):e001032 DOI: 10.1136/lupus-2023-001032
This study from Arnaud et al described baseline characteristics of SLE patients grouped by disease activity and IFNGS category in the international SPOCS study. IFNGS-high patients were younger at SLE diagnosis, and a baseline SLEDAI-2K score ≥10 was associated with shorter disease duration, more frequent and more severe flares. IFNGS-low patients were more likely to exhibit musculoskeletal and CNS comorbidities than IFNGS-high patients. Continuation of the SPOCS study will allow investigation into how different baseline characteristics affect long-term outcomes in SLE patients.
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Assessment and Personalised Advice for Fatigue in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Using an Innovative Digital Tool: The Lupus Expert System for the Assessment of Fatigue (LEAF) Study
RMD open. 2023; DOI:10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003476
Kawka et al investigated the use of the LEAF digital health tool to successfully assess the extent of patient-reported fatigue in SLE patients.
Emerging Immunotherapeutic Strategies for Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus: An Overview of Recent Phase 2 and 3 Clinical Trials
Expert Opin Emerg Drugs 2023;28(4):257–73 DOI: 10.1080/14728214.2023.2273536
Current treatments for refractory CLE are insufficient, often leading to suboptimal disease control, and demanding escalated therapies associated with systemic toxicities. However, recent Phase 2 & 3 trials offer promising results, suggesting new therapeutics approved for CLE are on the horizon.
EULAR Recommendations for the Management of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: 2023 Update
Ann Rheum Dis 2023;83(1):15–29 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-224762
The objective of this international task force was to update the EULAR recommendations for the management of SLE. The Task Force agreed on 5 overarching principles and 13 recommendations, generating an overall framework for the approach to a patient with SLE. The updated recommendations provide consensus guidance on the management of SLE, combining evidence and expert opinion.
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Impact of Low Disease Activity, Remission, and Complete Remission on Flares Following Tapering of Corticosteroids and Immunosuppressive Therapy in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematous: A Multinational Cohort Study
The Lancet Rheumatology, 2023, Volume 5, Issue 10, e584 - e593 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S2665-9913(23)00209-6
In this study, tapering of corticosteroids or immunosuppressive therapy in patients in LLDAS, remission, or complete remission was associated with excess flares versus continuing with therapy. Tapering in complete remission was associated with lower odds of flares compared with tapering in LLDAS or remission. In addition, patients with longer sustained duration of LLDAS or remission at the time of tapering had lower odds of flare and longer time to flare versus those with a shorter duration of LLDAS or remission.
Repeat Kidney Biopsy Findings of Lupus Nephritis Patients in Clinical Remission Treated with Mycophenolate Associated with Belimumab or Mycophenolate Plus Standard of Care Therapy. A “Post-hoc" Analysis of Participants in the BLISS-LN and Open Label Extension Study Belonging to a Single Center
doi: 10.1177/09612033231204070 Epub ahead of print
Single-centre study concludes that adding belimumab to the standard of care treatment with mycophenolate (MMF) increases the possibility of achieving a complete clinical response (CCR), complete histological response (CHR), and a lower rate of relapses during treatment and long follow-up.
Preclinical Evidence for the Glucocorticoid-Sparing Potential of a Dual Toll-Like Receptor 7/8 Inhibitor in Autoimmune Diseases
J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2023 doi: 10.1124/jpet.123.001744 Epub ahead of print
Preclinical evidence indicates a glucocorticoid (GC)-sparing potential for toll-like receptor (TLR)7/8 inhibitor compounds, suggesting TLR7/8i may offer a new strategy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Effect of Belimumab on Kidney-related Outcomes in Patients with Lupus Nephritis: Post Hoc Subgroup Analyses of the Phase 3 BLISS-LN Trial
Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2023;38(12):2733–42 doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfad167 Epub ahead of print.
These data highlight the consistent benefit of belimumab versus placebo, combined with standard therapy, on kidney outcomes in both newly diagnosed and relapsed patients, and regardless of the use of GC pulses at induction.
SGLT2 Inhibitors Alleviated Podocyte Damage in Lupus Nephritis by Decreasing Inflammation and Enhancing Autophagy
Ann Rheum Dis. 2023 DOI: 10.1136/ard-2023-224242
Data revealed a renoprotective effect of SGLT2 inhibitors by reducing proteinuria and preserving renal function in the murine MRL/lpr lupus model.
Safety and Efficacy of Long-term Voclosporin Treatment for Lupus Nephritis in the Phase 3 AURORA 2 Clinical Trial
Arthritis Rheumatol. 2023;76(1):59–67 DOI: 10.1002/art.42657
AURORA 2 demonstrated the safety and tolerability of continued administration of voclosporin over 3 years of treatment in patients with LN.