Rituxan (rituximab) can be effective as maintenance therapy for difficult-to-treat patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, allowing them to cut their use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressive agents, a new study says. However, relapses continue to occur frequently, mostly in patients with active joint disease. The study, “Rituximab…
The three largest minority groups in the United States — blacks, Asians/Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics — are significantly more likely to experience severe manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus than Caucasians, a new study shows. The study, “Racial/Ethnic Differences in Prevalence of and Time to Onset of SLE Manifestations: The…
In terms of kidney health, cyclosporine is a more effective long-term maintenance therapy for people with lupus nephritis than either mycophenolate mofetil or azathioprine, new data suggest. Largely, the researchers drew this conclusion because patients using it — even in the presence of high urine protein levels —…
Systemic lupus erythematosus patients who experienced childhood adversity, such as abuse, neglect, and household challenges, report worse overall health, depression, and higher disease activity, a new study shows. The study, “Relationships Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Health Status in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,” was published in the journal Arthritis…
Scientists have taken a high-resolution photo of a protein complex, called BRISC-SHMT2, that promotes inflammation and is thought to be at the root of lupus symptoms. This factor may represent a new therapeutic target to tackle the disease, and the new findings may help researchers find therapies that disrupt…
The idea that the female immune system adapts to accommodate pregnancy could explain why biological females are more likely than males to develop lupus and other autoimmune diseases, a study suggests. The study, titled “The Pregnancy Pickle: Evolved Immune Compensation Due to Pregnancy Underlies Sex Differences in…
Treatment with ustekinumab leads to significant reductions in severe flares in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with active disease, 1-year data from a Phase 2 trial shows. Biomarker analyses of the same data also provided clues about how ustekinumab works in SLE. The data were presented at the…
Gazyva (obinutuzumab) in combination with standard-of-care agents significantly increases the percentage of patients with proliferative lupus nephritis achieving complete or partial renal response, top-line data from a Phase 2 trial show. Gazyva is a monoclonal antibody that has been designed to bind CD20,…
KZR-616, a selective immunoproteasome inhibitor, is safe, well-tolerated, and effectively reduces disease activity in patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), preliminary Phase 1b data show. The findings were presented at the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) 2019 Annual Meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, in a poster titled, “…
These days, more than ever, we need community. As a culture, we are experiencing higher levels of stress, greater incidence of isolation, and an increase in the prevalence of autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and others. Slowly, we are starting…