Researchers have identified a previously unknown mechanism by which cells that are infected can signal their neighbors that something is wrong. Understanding how this alarm signal works might lead to new strategies for shutting down harmful immune reactions in diseases like lupus. The study, “Intracellular bacteria engage…
A frailty index developed by the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) could be a powerful and meaningful health measure to estimate vulnerability and mortality risk among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a study has found. The study, “Evaluating the properties of a frailty index and its association with…
An abnormal mix of bacteria in the gut, particularly increases in the bacteria Ruminococcus gnavus, may play a critical role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a study shows. The study, “Lupus nephritis is linked to disease-activity associated expansions and immunity to a gut commensal,” was published in …
A new study has identified a critical regulator of immunity, called microRNA-142, which could have significant implications for understanding or even treating autoimmune diseases and cancer. The study, “microRNA-142-mediated repression of phosphodiesterase 3B critically regulates peripheral immune tolerance,” was published in The Journal of Clinical Investigation. The…
Using the data of pregnant women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), researchers in China created a predictive model that identifies high-risk pregnancies in these women. The model could help clinicians estimate the risk of an adverse outcome early in the pregnancy and start special monitoring and treatment as soon as…
People with lupus nephritis who have nephrotic syndrome — loss of protein in urine, low albumin levels in circulation, elevated lipid levels, and swelling — are less likely to have a kidney response over one year, a review study of two clinical trials shows. It also…
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients have a higher risk for certain cancers — including cervical, thyroid, ovarian, and oral cancer, as well as lymphoma, multiple myeloma, and leukemia — than the general population, emphasizing the importance of cancer screening programs as part of SLE management. The findings of the…
Low-income people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at higher risk of getting bone fractures than their non-SLE counterparts. The risk is even greater when lupus nephritis is present, a study suggests. The study, “Comparative Fracture Risks among US Medicaid Enrollees with and without Systemic Lupus Erythematosus,” was published in …
Alcohol intake does not affect the risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to a study. The results contradict previous reports about the protective effects of alcohol against SLE. The study, “Alcohol intake and risk of systemic lupus erythematosus: a Mendelian randomization study,” was published in…
Panniculitis — a group of conditions that causes painful bumps to appear under the skin — is a rare manifestation of childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) that occurs mainly in the first three years of disease, and seems to be an indicator of less severe systemic lupus, a study found.