Rituxan (rituximab), a medicine that is often used to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), may also be effective at treating skin lesions in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), a study suggests. Researchers found that one year after treatment, 61% of patients experienced improvements in their skin lesions,…
High levels of a protein called HER2 in the urine can help identify children and adolescents with lupus who are at risk of serious kidney complications, a study suggests. While the study is still ongoing, the finding suggests that the use of approved HER2 inhibitors such as Tyverb (lapatinib)…
Throughout 2018, Lupus News Today brought you coverage of important discoveries, potential disease markers, treatment developments, and clinical trials related to lupus. As we look forward to reporting more news to patients, family members, and caregivers in 2019, here are the Top 10 most-read articles of 2018. No. 10 —…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has granted fast track status to baricitinib for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, the treatment’s developers, Eli Lilly and Incyte, announced. Fast track designation is intended to speed the therapy’s development and review for lupus patients, enabling more frequent communication with…
Women who were victims of physical or emotional abuse during childhood are at a higher risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) later in life, a retrospective study reports. According to the findings, exposure to extreme childhood stress and adversity may…
The addition of low-dose voclosporin to standard therapy led to significantly greater remission but a higher incidence of adverse events in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with active lupus nephritis, according to a Phase 2 clinical trial. Findings from the trial were published in the study, “…
The levels of galectin-3 binding protein (G3BP) in urine could be used as a biomarker of renal disease activity for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with lupus nephritis, according to a study. The study, “Urinary Galectin-3 Binding Protein As a Novel Biomarker of Renal Disease Activity…
Adding an oral immunosuppressive agent and hydroxychloroquine to routine intravenous cyclophosphamide significantly increases response rates among patients with lupus nephritis without increasing the rate of severe adverse events, a randomized study found. The study, “Combined immunosuppressive treatment (CIST) in lupus nephritis: a multicenter, randomized controlled study,” was published…
A low dose of the immunosuppressant leflunomide is as safe and effective as the standard of care cyclophosphamide for induction treatment of patients with lupus nephritis, according to a Phase 2/3 trial in China. Trial findings were published in the study, “Leflunomide versus cyclophosphamide in the induction…
Twelve weeks of aerobic exercise improved cardiovascular and respiratory fitness in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but without positive changes in arterial stiffness that was this small study’s main goal. Results also found no increase in signs of inflammation or oxidative stress in the exercise group compared to a control group urged to…