A large Chinese cohort study has shown that anti-pentraxin 3 (PTX3) auto-antibodies were less prevalent in lupus nephritis patients with active disease than in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients without renal involvement, and was linked to less severe renal damage. These findings confirm the protective role of anti-PTX3 auto-antibodies in lupus nephritis. The…
A super-sensitive assay, capable of detecting minute amounts of the immune factor interferon-alpha, will aid physicians in diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as well as other autoimmune conditions linked to the factor. Interferon-alpha is an extremely potent molecule, and because of this, it is only present in tiny amounts in…
Monthly intravenous Cytoxan (cyclophosphamide) treatment was linked to a lower accumulation of lupus nephritis kidney damage than other induction therapies investigated in a study of Japanese patients. Findings indicated that a complete response to treatment at three months predicted a lower damage accumulation, prompting researchers to suggest that a sustained…
Clinical trials with lupus patients should have a longer duration and a careful selection of patients based on certain parameters such as disease severity and treatment, recommends the Lupus Foundation of America (LFA), according to a news release. These recommendations are a result of the most recent study of…
Pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may have a higher prevalence of detectable dormant BK virus (BKV) than the general population. These are the findings from the study, “BK viruria and viremia in children with systemic lupus erythematosus,” recently published…
I have a chronic illness that I share with millions of people across the globe. And I am constantly apologizing for it. Unfamiliar to the general population, this chronic illness has been nicknamed an “invisible disease” because it is an auto-immune disorder that wreaks havoc internally. In fact, until…
Researchers have devised a blood test that predicts which blood relatives of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) — people who are at high risk of developing the disease — will actually develop it, even seven years before the disease declares itself. The blood test can be used to provide preventive…
The Lupus Foundation of America has scheduled its 10th Walk to End Lupus Now in New York City for Saturday, May 6, to recognize those living with lupus, honor those lost by the disease and fulfill the organization’s vision of a life free of lupus. Since 2008, participants have raised more than…
Benlysta reduced systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) activity and improved patient outcomes, but smokers and those with significant organ damage failed to respond as well to it, according to a Swedish study. The findings could help doctors determine which patients could benefit the most from Benlysta, also known as belimumab or LymphoStat-B. The…
Sun exposure and ultraviolet lights can trigger many unpleasant symptoms for lupus patients like skin rashes, joint pain, fatigue and swelling of internal organs. With help from healthline.com, we’ve put together some tips and tricks to keep you safe from the sun this summer: Sun Screen Try to limit the time you…