Lupus News

Following the implementation of standardized protocols for intravenous therapy use at a pediatric rheumatology infusion center, only 1.9% of all infusions were associated with adverse events, according to findings published in Pediatric Rheumatology.

Patients from Kuwait with systemic lupus erythematosus demonstrated a relatively high 17.4% frequency of the protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 22 gene variant R620W, compared with 0.9% of controls, according to a study published in BMC Rheumatology.

Although blisibimod did not meet its primary-endpoint response rate in a phase 3 study of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, the investigational agent was correlated with successful steroid reduction and decreased proteinuria, as well as several biomarker responses.

The FDA has rejected approval of Celltrion’s biologics license applications for Truxima, a proposed rituximab biosimilar, and Herzuma, a proposed trastuzumab biosimilar, issuing Complete Response Letters for both products.

Patients with arthritis who are younger, have rheumatoid factor positivity and demonstrate higher disease activity at baseline are at an increased risk for experiencing methotrexate failure due to inefficacy, according to findings published in Arthritis Care & Research.

Inhibiting the inactive rhomboid 2 protein, which regulates the body’s inflammatory system, could help physicians prevent kidney injury in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, as well as play a crucial role in mediating irreversible scarring, according to findings published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation.

The current standard of lupus disease control is unacceptable, and smaller and shorter drug trials are required to more effective develop more effective treatments, according to a white paper published in Lupus Science and Medicine.

Many rheumatic diseases – including systemic lupus erythematous, scleroderma and the various forms of psoriasis – present with a multitude of dermatologic symptoms that clinicians can easily confuse with other conditions.

Among patients with lupus nephritis, achieving renal remission 2 years after initial diagnosis is a significant predictor of long-term renal survival, according to findings published in the Journal of Rheumatology.

The use of biologic medications for autoimmune diseases prior to or during pregnancy is not associated with an increased risk for preterm delivery or infants that are small for gestational age, according to findings published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.