News

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…

Women who experience trauma or have post-traumatic stress disorder are at higher risk of developing systemic lupus erythematosus, a study suggests. The research, which appeared in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology, was titled “Association of trauma and posttraumatic stress disorder with incident systemic lupus erythematosus…

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…

Certain autoantibodies may help identify the small group of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) at risk of developing pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), and those who are at lower risk of death, according to the findings of a retrospective French study. The research, “Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Associated…

Newly published findings from two population-based registries in New York City and San Francisco have shed light on racial disparities in the prevalence of lupus in the United States. Data from the Manhattan Lupus Surveillance Program first showed that lupus is more prevalent among Hispanic and Asian women in…

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 (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…

A 49-year-old woman with severe demyelinating syndrome systemic lupus erythematosus (DS-SLE), where lupus affects the white matter in the brain, was successfully treated with Genentech‘s Rituxan (rituximab), along with other medications. The case report, “Severe neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus successfully treated with rituximab: an alternative to…

Lupus is more prevalent among Hispanic and Asian women in Manhattan, and those women develop significantly greater organ complications, particularly kidney disease, a study from the NYU School of Medicine shows. The research, “The Incidence and Prevalence of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in New York County (Manhattan), New…

Sufficient scientific evidence exists to support the switch from bio-originators to biosimilars to treat rheumatic diseases, concluded a task force of experts from 10 countries. Their study, “Consensus-based recommendations for the use of biosimilars to treat rheumatological diseases,” appeared in Annals of the Rheumaetic Diseases.