News

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…

Abnormal levels of microRNA in the blood of lupus nephritis patients could help doctors diagnose the kidney disorder and scientists develop therapies for it, a study reports. MicroRNA helps genes regulate the production of proteins and other substances. The study, “Profiling analysis of circulating microRNA in peripheral…

Lupus nephritis patients with reduced kidney function and high levels of “good” cholesterol are at a greater risk of end-stage renal disease, a new study suggests. On the other hand, low “good” cholesterol levels were linked to increased risk of all-cause mortality. The research, “…

Certain vitamin D receptor (VDR) variants are associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and contribute to the development of lupus nephritis, according to data from an eastern Indian cohort study. The findings may identify subjects who would benefit from vitamin D supplementation in order to alleviate renal morbidity. The study, “…

Factors that might be predictive of different responses and outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients who are treated with Rituxan (rituximab) still need to be validated in future studies to enable better and more personalized treatment, a literature review suggests. The study, “Predictive and prognostic…

A new, simple blood test was found to be a good predictor of lupus nephritis (LN) relapses. LN is a kidney disease that is one of the complications of lupus. The test was also used to evaluate disease activity levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The study, “…

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…

Adherence among lupus patients to hydroxychloroquine (HCQ), the backbone of disease therapy, is suboptimal overall but particularly poor among those on Medicaid who live in areas with fewer hospitals, larger African-American populations, and with a shortage of health professionals. These results were reported at the 2017 American College of Rheumatology Annual…

Corbus Pharmaceuticals has obtained a U.S. patent for the way that its therapy anabasum works to combat lupus, systemic sclerosis, cystic fibrosis and other inflammatory diseases. The protection that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office granted Corbus for the therapeutic process that anabasum uses will run through 2034. Anabasum is a synthetic…

Approximately one-third of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) admit to self-managing their corticosteroid medication without the consent of their rheumatologist or healthcare provider (HCP). The findings, which stem from the multi-country GSK suvey called EnABLE, highlight the need for a more proactive approach in lupus management, and improved awareness…