Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus) is a chronic disease that causes systemic inflammation and affects multiple organs. Who is most at risk to develop SLE, and why? How does a person transition from healthy to active lupus? How can we help patients achieve and maintain remission? These are some of the questions explored in the articles below. Explore our collection of research reviews, case reports and clinical articles on advances in the diagnosis and management of SLE. Features are added often, so check back frequently.

Plus, dozens of research abstracts on various aspects of lupus were presented during ACR Convergence 2021, and David S. Pisetsky, MD, PhD, professor of medicine and immunology at Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C., a staff rheumatologist at the Durham VA Medical Center and the very first physician editor of The Rheumatologist, highlights a few in the context of the work and their importance. (Also see his commentary from 2020.)

FEATURED ARTICLE: Dermatologist, Rheumatologist Discuss Refractory Cutaneous Lupus Case

Case Report: Lupus Nephritis or a Mimic?

Syphilis, an ancient disease caused by the spirochete Treponema pallidum, has been historically referred to as the great mimicker given its heterogenous presentation. Both systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and syphilis can have multi-systemic involvement. Both parvovirus B19 and syphilis have been reported to cause histologic features similar to those seen in lupus nephritis. We present… [Read More]

3 AC&R Study Summaries: MoCA Screening in SLE, Pediatric Social Disadvantages & Surgical Weight Loss Interventions

MoCA as a Screening Test in SLE Assessing the utility of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) By Oshrat E. Tayer-Shifman, MD, Kimberley Yuen, BSc, MD, & Zahi Touma, MD, PhD, FACP, FACR Why was this study done? Cognitive impairment is a common manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), with a prevalence of 40% based on… [Read More]

Belimumab Promising for Children with Lupus Nephritis

Belimumab is now FDA approved to treat children aged 5 years and older with active lupus nephritis, providing treatment options for pediatric patients at risk of developing renal damage.... [Read More]

What’s New in SLE: Pathogenesis & Novel Therapies

Thomas Dörner, MD, reviewed the current state of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) management, providing updates on novel therapies and insights into the pathogenesis of SLE. ... [Read More]

Dermatologist, Rheumatologist Discuss Refractory Cutaneous Lupus Case

As a dermatologist/internist with a career-long subspecialty interest in the cutaneous manifestations of the rheumatic diseases, I found the case of refractory acute cutaneous lupus by Samantha C. Shapiro, MD, in the June 2022 issue of The Rheumatologist intriguing in several ways, and I felt my perspectives on this case might provide additional educational value… [Read More]

Clinical Challenges in SLE: Glucocorticoids—How Much Is Too Much?

Glucocorticoids remain a prominent part of care for many patients with SLE but can have toxic side effects; this EULAR 2022 session discussed one institution’s approach to lower the dosage.... [Read More]

Difficult-to-Treat Lupus: When & How to Use New Therapies

Clinicians have numerous treatment options for SLE; in a EULAR 2022 session, some of the newer therapies were reviewed.... [Read More]

Image Case Report: Refractory, Acute, Cutaneous Lupus

A 25-year-old Mexican American woman with a five-year history of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presents with refractory, acute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (ACLE) and subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (SCLE) affecting the scalp, face and hands. Her serologic phenotype is characterized by elevated anti-nuclear, anti-double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (dsDNA), anti-ribonucleoprotein (RNP), anti-Smith and anti-SS-A (Ro) antibodies and chronically… [Read More]

Improving Lupus Drug Regimen Adherence Among Minorities

Rheumatologists can do better at helping systemic lupus erythematosus patients from racial and ethnic minority groups adhere to their lupus medication regimens, according to a paper published in Arthritis Care & Research. Researchers from Duke University examined medication adherence barriers from the perspectives of healthcare providers and patients. Their findings suggest more attention should be… [Read More]

Case Report: Drug-Induced Lupus

The incidence of drug-induced lupus continues to rise as clinicians expand their therapeutic armamentarium. An estimated 15,000–30,000 cases of drug-induced lupus occur every year in the U.S. alone.1 It is a well-known, but rare, complication of commonly used medications, such as anti-hypertensive, anti-arrhythmic and anti-epileptic drugs, as well as biologic and immune checkpoint therapies.2,3 The… [Read More]