News

UK Universities to Create World’s Largest Inflammatory Disease Biobank

U.K. researchers are establishing a national consortium with a grant of £1.7 million (British pounds) from the Medical Research Council (MRC) to create the world’s largest Immune-Mediated Inflammatory Disease (IMID) Biobank, with more than 40,000 patients. The IMIDBio-UK consortium will incorporate different biobanks and clinical datasets into one single,…

Mannose-binding Lectin Levels Linked to Disease Activity in Lupus Patients

The lectin pathway of the complement system — a system that enhances the body’s ability to clear invaders — may underlie the clinical manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), new research suggests. The study “Mannose-binding lectin serum levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: association with thrombocytopaenia…

Patient-reported Outcome Tool Fares Well, But Has Limitations, Study Finds

A tool for measuring patient-reported outcomes, called PROMIS-29, performed rather well in a study attempting to validate the approach in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and other rheumatic conditions. But the researchers’ endorsement of the tool was cautious, as they detected that most patients tended to score at the worse…

OX40L-Positive B-Cells Are Key Players in Lupus Autoimmunity, Study Finds

The protein OX40L, produced by immune B-cells, plays a key role in the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by activating a T-cell subset involved in autoimmunity, new research has found. Inhibition of OX40L B-cells improved lupus symptoms in mice, suggesting that OX40L is a promising new target for lupus treatment. The…

Uptravi Delays Progression of PAH Associated with Lupus and Other Connective Tissue Diseases, Trial Shows

Uptravi (selexipag) delays the progression of pulmonary arterial hypertension in people with PAH that is associated with connective tissue diseases, including lupus, a Phase 3 clinical trial shows. Patients also tolerate Uptravi well, researchers said. PAH associated with connective tissue disease is also known as PAH-CTD, and PAH associated with lupus…