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

Updates in Pediatric Lupus: Experts Discuss Advances in Lupus Nephritis Treatments, Monogenic Lupus & More

PRSYM—At the 2021 Pediatric Rheumatology Symposium (PRSYM), a session on lupus provided a robust discussion of recent advances in lupus treatments and genetic discoveries in pediatric rheumatology. Lupus Nephritis The first speaker was Shaun Jackson, MD, PhD, a pediatric nephrologist and rheumatologist and associate professor at Seattle Children’s. His presentation focused on state-of-the-art treatments in… [Read More]

2-Year Extension Study Supports Voclosporin to Treat Patients with Lupus Nephritis

Research has shown voclosporin in combination with MMF and low-dose steroids benefits patients with lupus nephritis, significantly increasing the speed of remission. New data from an ongoing extension study demonstrate a positive risk/benefit profile.... [Read More]

Rare Disease Sheds Light on the Origins of Lupus

Patients with the rare DNASE1L3 biallelic null mutation present with childhood-onset disease that resembles lupus. This observation prompted research into how abnormalities in the enzyme DNASE1L3 are associated with lupus, with researchers finding autoantibody-mediated impairment of DNASE1L3 activity may be a common non-genetic mechanism leads to anti-dsDNA autoreactivity in SLE.... [Read More]

New Insights into CD8+ T Cells & Lupus

A recent study demonstrated that exposure to type I interferon contributes to the pathogenesis of SLE via the metabolic rewiring of CD8+ T cells, which promotes cell death.... [Read More]

Platelets: An Underrecognized Piece of the Lupus Puzzle

Platelets may be a key source of mitochondrial antigens in systemic lupus erythematosus, according to a recent study.... [Read More]

Lupus or Not? Machine Learning May Help Diagnose Lupus Early

Can machine learning aid clinicians in diagnosing systemic lupus erythematosus? Adamichou et al. designed an algorithm that uses classical features of lupus to simulate medical reasoning and identify lupus early in the disease process. They were able to validate the algorithm, which demonstrated high sensitivity, specificity and accuracy.... [Read More]

A 2021 Update on Lupus Management & Treatment

At the 2021 ACR State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium, Saira Sheikh, MD, associate professor of Medicine and director of the Rheumatology Lupus Clinic, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, provided an update on the past, present and future of the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This year, hydroxychloroquine received a great deal of attention, given early… [Read More]

FDA Approves Belimumab & Voclosporin for Lupus Nephritis

In December, the FDA approved belimumab, the first drug approved to treat lupus nephritis, an historic action that was rapidly followed in January by the approval of a second treatment for lupus nephritis, voclosporin. ... [Read More]

Case Report: Evans Syndrome in Lupus

Rheumatologists are in the unique position of diagnosing and treating rare auto-inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Although systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often has textbook presentations, it is a heterogeneous condition with a wide variety of disease manifestations. In 2019, the European League Against Rheumatism and the ACR introduced new classification criteria to help diagnose this condition.1… [Read More]

Case Study: Cerebral Toxoplasmosis in a Newly Diagnosed Lupus Patient

The occurrence of opportunistic infections is an established complication in patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The foremost challenge in such circumstances is differentiating between an exacerbation or progression of SLE, and the effects of the infection itself.1 Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous parasite that often causes an asymptomatic infection in healthy, immunocompetent adults…. [Read More]