At a session of ACR Convergence 2024, speakers shared key elements of the new guideline on the screening, treatment and overall management of lupus nephritis in children and adults.1 This guideline attempts to balance the risks of medication side effects with the important goal of preserving kidney function. This is the ACR’s first lupus guideline…
In this study, Fava et al. investigated longitudinal autoantibody profiles in a racially diverse cohort of patients with lupus nephritis to define noninvasive serological biomarkers of histologic class and one-year treatment response to standard of care. In addition, the researchers determined how these biomarkers changed over time to provide further insights into treatment response and…
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…
“B cells are central orchestraters of autoimmune disease by contributing to autoantibody production, antigen presentation and cytokine production,” says Georg Schett, MD, head of the Department of Medicine 3 (Rheumatology and Immunology) of the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany. “B cells can be inhibited by monoclonal antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) expressing cells.” Dr. Schett…
Renal arteriosclerosis is common in patients with lupus nephritis and occurs two decades earlier than it does in people without the condition, say investigators in a study that examined the prevalence of renal arteriosclerosis in patients with lupus nephritis compared with healthy controls.1 The finding suggests that renal arteriosclerosis could be used as a biomarker…
Research from Papazoglou et al. highlights the substantial risk of atherosclerosis progression and incident cardiovascular events in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as the importance of prolonged remission and the sustained control of cardiovascular risk factors in mitigating these risks over time.
Among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), lupus nephritis is one of the more common health problems and a leading cause of mortality. In adults with SLE, as many as five of 10 will develop kidney disease. In children with lupus, eight of 10 will develop kidney disease.1 Lupus nephritis appears to be more prevalent…
Risk of Mortality from SLE By Ansaam Daoud, MD, Loai Dweik, MD, & Omer Pamuk, MD Why was this study done? Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with significant mortality, particularly affecting racial and ethnic minorities. This study aimed to assess national SLE mortality trends over the past two decades, stratified by…
Maternal Health Insights in Patients with SLE The impact of pregnancy readiness on lupus activity, maternal mental health & pregnancy outcomes By Ceshae Harding, MD, & Megan Clowse, MD, MPH Why was this study done? Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who are pregnant have increased risks of risks maternal and fetal mortality, preeclampsia and…
ACR Convergence 2024—Arthritis symptoms related to lupus are a bit of a trouble spot for clinicians, with limited data to guide treatment and overlap with other conditions, experts said in a session at ACR Convergence. Lupus arthritis (LA), present in 95% of patients with lupus, is the main cause of work-related disability and is a…