Lupus News

HILTON HEAD, S.C. — A program developed at Duke University called Healthy Outcomes in Pregnancy with SLE Through Education of Providers, or HOP-STEP, can educate providers and help rheumatologists across the country better care for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus who are, or are seeking to become, pregnant, according to Megan E.B. Clowse, MD, MPH.

ORLANDO — There are less then 350 pediatric rheumatologists currently practicing in the United States, representing a substantial barrier to care for the 300,000 children with arthritis, 30,000 with systemic lupus erythematosus and 3,000 with juvenile dermatomyositis across the country, according to Cathy Patty-Resk, MSN, RN-BC, CPNP-BC, president-elect of the Rheumatology Nurses Society.

ORLANDO — Patients with lupus are not being provided with enough information at physician’s appointments or at diagnosis, leaving them to seek help from health educators, according to a poster presented at the 2019 Rheumatology Nurses Society Annual Conference.

The Patient-Report Outcomes Measurement Information Systems global health short form is responsive to patient-reported – but not physician-reported – changes in lupus, according to findings published in Arthritis Care & Research.

Disease heterogeneity and the lack of a clear disease definition are among the top barriers to advancing lupus care, according to survey data published in Lupus Science & Medicine.

Achieving a low disease activity state in systemic lupus erythematosus that is maintained for 50% or more of the time is associated with significantly reduced out-of-pocket hospital costs for patients, according to findings published in Arthritis Care & Research.

Nephritis, clinical trials and biomarkers rank highest among research priorities related to childhood-onset systematic lupus erythematosus, according to a survey of rheumatologists, dermatologists and nephrologists published in Pediatric Rheumatology.

Low disease activity and remission are predictors of increased health-related quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, particularly regarding physical and emotional health, pain and feeling like a burden to others, according to data published in Arthritis Care & Research.

Maternal mortality drastically decreased and overall pregnancy outcomes improved in women with systemic lupus erythematosus during the last 18 years, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

White blood cell counts and inflammatory markers may hold lower diagnostic utility among patients in an immunosuppressed state who experienced periprosthetic joint infection after total joint arthroplasty, according to published research.