Lupus News

In the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis, treatment nonadherence is an ongoing and common problem with potential implications for successful management of these chronic conditions, according to an editorial published in Rheumatology.

Rates for prevalence, as well as incidence of systemic lupus erythematosus were about nine-times higher in women than men living in Manhattan, according to published results of the Manhattan Lupus Surveillance Program or MLSP, which is a population-based registry that focused on the prevalence and incidence of the condition in New York County (Manhattan), New York.

Women with systemic lupus erythematosus demonstrated low or no disease activity at conception and during pregnancy, but increased activity was seen at 6 and 12 months postpartum, according to findings.

In patients with lupus, a cardiovascular prevention counseling program reduced the incidence of some cardiovascular disease risk factors, according to recently published findings.

The most important challenge facing pediatric rheumatology is a lack of pediatric rheumatologists, according to many experts in the field. The shortage of clinicians has a ripple effect. It impacts the amount and nature of research conducted in the field. Communication gaps exist between young patients, their parents and clinicians, largely because many people simply do not realize rheumatic diseases can occur in children. Diagnoses are delayed. While treatments can be more or less effective in children compared to adults, primary pediatricians or general practitioners may not be familiar with these uses. All of this points to suboptimal patient outcomes.

Histopathologic assessment of hair follicles in patients with chronic cutaneous lupus erythematosus of the scalp revealed two distinct patterns, according to recent findings.

ORLANDO, Fla. — At the Rheumatology Nurses Society Annual Conference, Monica Richey, MSN, ANP-BC/GNP, spoke about lupus and antiphospholipid syndrome. She it is important that rheumatology health care providers understand there is a “perfect storm” that develops this disease. Richey said there are currently more than 126 known genes involved in the development of lupus, in addition to the role that sex hormones and the environment, such as emotional stress, pregnancy and drugs, have in the development of lupus.

Along with longer disease duration and older age, lower income was linked with lupus damage, according to a recently published study.

The FDA has approved a self-injectable formulation of Benlysta for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, according to a company press release.

Among patients with lupus, researchers have identified new genetic markers that predispose patients to the disease, according to a recently published study.