Treatment with tocilizimab preserved lung function in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) regardless of a patient’s level of lung involvement, according to a recent study. ... [Read More]
Lara C. Pullen, PhD, is a medical writer with a PhD in microbiology/immunology from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. As a medical writer she has covered topics as diverse as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and autism. Her favorite subject, however, is the role of the immune system in health and disease. Dr. Pullen is also the mother of three children, the youngest of whom has Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). She is an active member of the PWS community and a thought leader on the importance of the ketogenic diet for this patient population.
Articles by Lara C. Pullen, PhD
COVID-19 Vaccination Induces T Cell Response in Patients Treated with Rituximab
Research indicates mRNA vaccination for SARS‐CoV‐2 infection may induce a T cell response in vulnerable, immunocompromised patient populations being treated with rituximab.... [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]
International Study Finds Colchicine Promising as Outpatient Treatment for COVID-19
One of the oldest treatment options in rheumatology, colchicine, may be an effective and inexpensive treatment to prevent complications in non-hospitalized patients with COVID-19, particularly in men, according to the results of large global study.... [Read More]
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring May Offer Little Benefit to Patient Remission Rates During Infliximab Induction Therapy
Although rheumatologists prescribe tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi’s) to treat several rheumatic diseases, they recognize immunogenicity influences the efficacy and safety of TNFi’s. Example: The formation of anti-drug antibodies can affect infusion reactions and cause low-serum drug levels and therapeutic failure. The induction phase is a period of high incidence of immunogenicity, and observational data… [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]
Cohort Study Reveals Patients Treated with Rituximab Have Poorer COVID-19 Outcomes
According to a recent cohort study, patients with inflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases receiving rituximab therapy experience more severe COVID-19. Researchers also found an association between rituximab use and prolonged hospital stays.... [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]
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 37
- Next Page »