Determining the activity of an enzyme in the blood could help doctors diagnose and track the progression of lupus, a Chinese study suggests. The research, “Serum adenosine deaminase activity is increased in systemic lupus erythematosus patients and correlated with disease activity,” was published in the journal Immunologic Research. A…
In addition to their role in coagulation and healing, platelets seem to be involved in the response to foreign invaders like bacteria and viruses, contributing to an exacerbated immune response, a new study shows. The research, published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), suggests that platelets play…
The levels of nitrated nucleosome (NN) in the blood rise at the time of a neuropsychiatric event in some patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), research from a multi-center, international study shows. However, new studies are required to assess the potential of NN as a biomarker for neuropsychiatric systemic lupus…
ImmuPharma has completed a pivotal Phase 3 clinical trial testing Lupuzor (rigerimod) as a lupus treatment and announced an extension study. Findings dealing with the therapy’s effectiveness are expected to be released by the end of April 2018. Lupuzor displayed a robust safety profile after being administered for a year, researchers…
Adding Rituxan (rituximab) to maintenance therapy with immunosuppressants and corticosteroids may help patients control their systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a new Japanese study suggests. The study, “Efficacy and safety of anti-CD20 antibody rituximab for patients with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus,” conducted in a small group of Japanese patients,…
A team of researchers has identified new variations within the coding region of genes — which gives rise to proteins — that may be associated with a person’s susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study, “Exome-wide association study identifies four novel loci for systemic lupus erythematosus…
Pulmonary hypertension affects 8 percent of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a new meta-analysis shows. But pulmonary hypertension (PH) does not affect all lupus patients equally. A subgroup analysis showed that men, adults, and non-Asian patients are the most affected by the disease. The study, “Prevalence of pulmonary…
Older patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a low risk of future renal involvement, researchers report. The risk factors they identified with lupus nephritis onset included young age, low complement levels, and non-Caucasian ethnicity. The study, “Predictors of incident proteinuria among patients with SLE,” was published…
Researchers at Northwell Health’s Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have launched a clinical trial to evaluate the potential of a small electronic device in relieving pain in lupus patients. “Lupus is a painful disease, notoriously hard to diagnose and difficult to treat – new treatment options are desperately needed,” Cynthia…
Young patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) show a high number of visits to healthcare facilities in the year before their diagnosis, research shows. The study, “High Health Care Utilization Preceding Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Youth,” was published in the journal Arthritis Care & Research. While advances…