The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the use of Benlysta (belimumab), given on top of standard therapy, to treat children ages 5 to 17 with active lupus nephritis, a serious form of kidney inflammation caused by lupus. Benlysta is the first FDA-approved treatment for pediatric lupus…
Lower income is associated with a significantly higher risk of certain kidney diseases, including lupus nephritis, a new study found. The study, “Socioeconomic Position and Incidence of Glomerular Diseases,” was published in the Clinical Journal of American Society of Nephrology. How much money individuals have can…
An educational program done in small, local, and peer-led groups, called the Chronic Disease Self‐Management Program, was seen as helpful by African-American women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), improving their diet, ability to exercise, and their adherence to treatment, a study suggests. The study, “Exploring…
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are more common in pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus than those without the chronic autoimmune disease, and pose an increased risk of heart disease and high blood pressure later in life, a large Swedish study shows. The study, “Maternal hypertensive…
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is partnering with Lupus Canada to fund the Lupus Canada Catalyst Award that supports research projects with potential to advance the field and improve the lives of people living with lupus. The award will be given to one researcher (a…
A newly identified genetic signature may provide clues into the mechanisms underlying systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and open new potential avenues to personalized treatments. The research, “Integrated, multi-cohort analysis reveals unified signature of systemic lupus erythematosus,” was published in the journal JCI Insight. Gene expression…
Two comprehensive tools can reliably measure changes in disease activity in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a new study suggests. The findings support the use of these instruments — the SELENA SLEDAI Physician’s Global Assessment, known as the SSPGA, and the Lupus Foundation of America-Rapid Evaluation of Activity…
Exposure to dust and having post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) as a result of the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York are associated with an increased risk of developing autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, a study reports. This finding highlights the need for better monitoring of the…
Physical and emotional abuse during childhood may increase the risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) later in life, a new study has found. The study, “Association of Childhood Abuse with Incident Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Adulthood in a Longitudinal Cohort of Women,” was published in …
Fatigue has a major impact on quality of life in people with systemic lupus erythematosus, and measuring it using a patient-reported tool may prove useful in clinical trials, new research shows. The findings were presented at the recent 2019 American College of Rheumatology/Association for Rheumatology Professionals Annual Meeting…