More than one-third of German patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) did not get vaccinated, largely due to fear of developing a lupus flare or negative side effects related to the vaccines, a new study shows. The study, “Vaccination coverage in systemic lupus erythematosus—a cross-sectional analysis of the German…
A combination treatment of bisphosphonate and vitamin D may prevent cardiovascular disease in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a new study shows. The study, “Effect of combined treatment with bisphosphonate and vitamin D on atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a propensity score-based analysis,” was published…
Women with lupus nephritis — an inflammation of the kidneys caused by lupus — are at increased risk for problem pregnancies, compared to those with systemic lupus erythematosus alone, a new study shows. The study, “Management and outcomes of pregnancy with or without lupus nephritis:…
A new test looking at the presence of 26 autoantibodies — antibodies targeting a person’s own healthy proteins — is better at diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and predicting its course than conventional ones, a study shows. The test was developed using several newly identified autoantibodies for SLE, and groups…
Treatment with atacicept — a protein that targets the immune system — significantly reduced disease flares in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), data from EMD Serono‘s Phase 2 trial shows. The study, “Reduction of systemic lupus flares by atacicept in a randomized, placebo- controlled,…
Native American patients are diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at an earlier age and present with worse concurrent rheumatic disease symptoms than European Americans, a new study shows. The study with those findings, “Unique clinical characteristics, autoantibodies and medication use in Native American patients with systemic…
Pulmonary manifestations, specifically interstitial lung disease (ILD) and serositis — inflammation of tissues lining the lungs — are more common in late-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients than in those with early-onset disease, a study shows. The study, “Pulmonary manifestations in late versus early systemic lupus…
Long-term use of Benlysta (belimumab), an approved therapy, is both safe and effective, reducing disease activity in most systemic lupus erythematosus patients, according to a study that followed patients in the U.S. for seven years. The multicenter extension study involved patients who had completed 72 weeks of treatment in the BLISS-76…
Environmental factors, including UV light and air pollution, can significantly contribute to the development or progression of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to a new review. The review, titled “Environmental triggers in systemic lupus erythematosus,” was led by Dr. Gaurav Gulati, MD, a physician-researcher at the University…
Patients with lupus found the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) assessment tool to be relevant, valuable, and useful in improving clinical care, according to a new study. Results from the study, which was conducted at the Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York, was presented at the…