News

Wheat Proteins May Trigger Inflammation in Lupus and Other Chronic Conditions

Researchers have found that a group of proteins in wheat may be responsible for triggering inflammation in chronic conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis. The protein could also contribute to the development of non-celiac gluten sensitivity. How gluten, another wheat protein, can harm people who are celiac and non-celiac gluten sensitive is…

Genes Newly Linked to Skin Disease May Lead to Better Understanding of Lupus

Researchers identified 23 genes associated with a predisposition for vitiligo, an autoimmune disease characterized by patches of skin and hair that lack pigmentation. Their discovery may lead to a better understanding of other autoimmune conditions, such as lupus. The study, “Genome-wide association studies of autoimmune vitiligo identify 23 new risk loci…

Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Patients May Benefit from JAK1 Inhibitors

Inhibiting a branch of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway may be an effective therapy against cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), according to a recent report. The study, “JAK3 as an Emerging Target for Topical Treatment of Inflammatory Skin Diseases,” was recently published in PLOS One. A crucial harmful pathway in inflammatory skin diseases,…

Novel Biomarkers May Help Predict Response to Lupus Nephritis Therapy

Researchers have identified novel biomarkers for lupus nephritis (LN), a disease that affects several patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to a study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology. The authors reported these biomarkers can accurately indicate disease development and predict therapeutic effectiveness. The study is titled “…

70% of Lupus Nephritis Patients in Full Remission at Week 24 in Small Study of Voclosporin

Aurinia Pharmaceuticals announced that seven of the 10 patients with lupus nephritis (LN) enrolled in its AURION study, evaluating short-term predictors of clinical response to voclosporin treatment, achieved complete disease remission at 24 weeks. In addition, the company reported that patients who achieved remission at eight weeks continued in remission at 24 weeks.

Lupus Patients with Active Disease Being Enrolled in Phase 3 Trial of Anifrolumab

Researchers at Temple University Hospital are taking part in a large, global Phase 3 clinical trial to evaluate whether a novel, investigational drug for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is more effective than previously approved medications. This trial (NCT02446912), one of several pivotal and ongoing studies of anifrolumab to treat moderately to severely active SLE,…