News

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.

Lupus researcher Gary S. Gilkeson, MD, a distinguished professor in the Division of Rheumatology & Immunology at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), has been given the Master’s Designation — the American College of Rheumatology’s highest honor. Gilkeson, who is also MUSC’s associate dean for faculty affairs…

A new proof-of-concept study supports the use of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to treat systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), showing that transplanting MSCs can control the disease in patients from different ethnicities. The study, “Therapeutic potential of allogeneic mesenchymal stromal cells transplantation for lupus nephritis,” was published in …

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients treated Benlysta (belimumab) together with standard of care showed significantly lesser evidence of long-term organ damage than those given standard of care alone, a review study reports. The research, “Organ damage in patients treated with belimumab versus standard of care: a…

In patients with recent-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), higher levels of a protein called osteopontin seem to be associated with lupus nephritis and more disease activity, but not with the development of organ damage over five years, according to a study. The study, “Osteopontin and Disease…

BIIB059, an antibody that targets a receptor of plasmacytoid dendritic cells, was well-tolerated and reduced inflammation and skin lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, a Phase 1 trial shows. The study, “Monoclonal antibody targeting BDCA2 ameliorates skin lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus,” was published in…

Defects in the Ets1 gene in T-cells, immune system cells with known links to inflammation, caused the uncontrolled expansion of some of these cells in mice and induced systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) autoimmunity in the animals, researchers report. Blocking a cytokine known as interleukin (IL)-4 suppressed this cellular expansion and eased…

Rituxan (rituximab) is not effective at treating moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients without kidney involvement, a new analysis of the Phase 2/3 trial EXPLORER concluded. The results confirm a prior analysis…

The Lupus Research Alliance has awarded grants of up to $600,000 each to seven scientists from across the U.S. to promote the development of innovative therapies for lupus, the organization announced. The initiative…

Abnormalities in the skeletal muscle are not a major contributor to the fatigue experienced by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, a study based on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) suggests, contradicting prior beliefs. The study, “Metabolic and structural skeletal muscle health in systemic lupus erythematosus related fatigue:…