Lupus

Although chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy has delivered previously unthinkable remission outcomes to patients with lupus and other rheumatic diseases, the cells currently in use remain “old fashioned,” according to a speaker.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy improves not only lupus disease activity but also other related conditions that impact quality of life, according to a speaker at the Basic and Clinical Immunology for the Busy Clinician symposium.

Black patients, particularly women, have died from systemic lupus erythematosus at disproportionately higher rates despite overall declines in mortality over the past 20 years, according to data published in Arthritis Care & Research.

Twelve years is a long time by most measures, but in a field has rapidly changing as lupus nephritis research, it may as well be an eternity.

Interferon-alpha activity may be used routinely in clinical settings as a biomarker for cutaneous lupus erythematosus and disease flares, according to a study.

Children with lupus nephritis who receive belimumab achieve treatment targets faster, and can taper glucocorticoids earlier, than those using standard immunotherapy, according to data published in Lupus Science & Medicine.

Exposure to various air pollutants, such as PM2.5 and nitrogen oxides, increases the risk for several autoimmune diseases, including psoriasis, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, according to data published in Scientific Reports.

Requiring erythema alone for entry into cutaneous lupus erythematosus trials may exclude patients with skin of color and increase health disparities, according to a study.

Patients with cutaneous lupus erythematosus may be at an increased risk for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, even more than those with psoriasis, according to a study.