scholarly journals Glucocorticoid Discontinuation in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus With Prior Severe Organ Involvement: a Single-center Retrospective Analysis

Author(s):  
Masato Okada ◽  
Sho Fukui ◽  
Yukihiko Ikeda ◽  
Masei Suda ◽  
Hiromichi Tamaki ◽  
...  

Abstract Background:Long-term glucocorticoid use in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may have significant side effects; however, glucocorticoid discontinuation is occasionally associated with disease flare-ups. Therefore, we evaluated the risk factors for disease flares and the flare rate upon glucocorticoid tapering in patients with prior severe organ involvement.Methods:Patients with SLE with glucocorticoid tapering at our institution were retrospectively analyzed. We divided the patients according to the presence of prior severe organ involvement and compared flare rates and time to first flare after glucocorticoid discontinuation. Furthermore, we determined risk and protective factors for flares after glucocorticoid discontinuation.Results:A total of 309 patients with SLE were screened; 298 had prednisolone tapered to less than 7.5 mg/day and 75 had glucocorticoid discontinuation. Overall, 73 patients met the inclusion criteria; 49 were classified as SLE with prior severe organ involvement. No statistical differences were noted in the 52-week flare rate and time to first flare after glucocorticoid discontinuation between patients with and without prior severe organ involvement (52-week flare rate: 16.7% vs. 18.2%, p = 1.0; time to first flare: 322 [280, 1169] vs. 385 [304, 2345] days, p = 0.33). Hypocomplementemia, elevated anti-dsDNA antibody titers of more than twice the upper limit of the laboratory reference range, and positive anti-Smith/anti-ribonucleoprotein antibody were negatively associated with flare-free remission.Conclusion:Glucocorticoid discontinuation can often be achieved in patients with SLE without increasing flare risk in most patients with prior severe organ involvement, especially when the disease is clinically and serologically stable.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Piantoni ◽  
Francesca Regola ◽  
Stefania Masneri ◽  
Michele Merletti ◽  
Torsten Lowin ◽  
...  

Background: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) show increased serum levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)/TNF receptor (R) superfamily member, e.g. BAFF (B lymphocyte stimulator). Belimumab, a monoclonal antibody against soluble BAFF, is used for treatment of SLE. Although B cells are the main target, a BAFF-dependent T-cell activation pathway also plays a role. High levels of anti-DNA antibodies and low complement at baseline are known predictors of response to Belimumab.Objectives: To explore the association of circulating lymphocytes and serum levels of B- cell related TNF/TNFR superfamily members with response to Belimumab in SLE patients.Methods: Twenty-one SLE patients received Belimumab. Clinical evaluation and laboratory tests were performed at baseline, at 6 and 12 months. TNF super-family members (BAFF, APRIL, sBCMA, sCD40L, sTACI, TWEAK) were tested by high-sensitivity ELISA in all patients, and lymphocyte immunophenotyping was performed by flow cytometry in ten subjects. SLE-disease activity was assessed by SLEDAI-2K score. Linear regression modeling was used to investigate parameters influencing SLEDAI-2K and anti-dsDNA antibody titers over time and for predictive models.Results: Clinical improvement was observed in all patients. A global reduction of circulating B cells, especially naïve, was detected, without variation in the T-cell compartment. All TNF family members decreased, whereas APRIL remained constant. The increase in serum levels of C3 (p = 0.0004) and sTACI (p = 0.0285) was associated with a decrease of SLEDAI-2K. The increase of C4 (p = 0.027) and sBCMA (p = 0.0015) and the increase of CD8+ T cells (p = 0.0160) were associated with a decrease, whereas an increase of sCD40L in serum (p = 0.0018) and increased number of CD4+ T cells (p = 0.0029) were associated with an increase, in anti-dsDNA antibody titers, respectively. Using stepwise forward inclusion, the minimal model to predict SLEDAI-2K response at 12 months included BAFF (p = 3.0e − 07) and SLEDAI-2K (p = 7.0e − 04) at baseline. Baseline APRIL levels also showed an association, although the overall model fit was weaker.Conclusion: In our real-life cohort, baseline serum levels of BAFF were the best predictor of response to Belimumab, confirming post-hoc results of the BLISS study and suggesting the utility of this particular biomarker for the identification of patients who are more likely to respond.


1975 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 924-929 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hideaki YAMAURA ◽  
Masaharu RIKIMARU ◽  
Isamu TAKAHASHI ◽  
Sadao ANAN ◽  
Tomio AKIYAMA ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. e229382
Author(s):  
Tiago Gama Ramires ◽  
Luísa Vieira ◽  
Nuno Riso ◽  
Maria Francisca Moraes-Fontes

A 23-year-old woman with fever, oral ulcers, arthalgias and weight loss of 2-week duration suddenly developed blurred vision, with reduced visual acuity, cotton wool exudates and retinal vascular tortuosity. Laboratory testing revealed anaemia, lymphopaenia, positive antinuclear antibody and high anti-dsDNA antibody titre with low complement components. There was no evidence of infection, clinching the diagnosis of lupus retinopathy. Steroid therapy alone was highly effective and was also accompanied by a normalisation of haemoglobin and lymphocyte counts, after which azathioprine was added. Hydroxychloroquine was introduced after resolution of retinal changes. Immunosuppressive therapy was progressively tapered over the course of 12 months and then discontinued, and the patient remains in remission 48 months after the initial presentation. Our patient exemplifies a very rare manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus. We emphasise the importance of its early detection and complexity of treatment in order to reduce visual morbidity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kittikorn Wangriatisak ◽  
Chokchai Thanadetsuntorn ◽  
Thamonwan Krittayapoositpot ◽  
Chaniya Leepiyasakulchai ◽  
Thanitta Suangtamai ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Autoreactive B cells are well recognized as key participants in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). However, elucidating the particular subset of B cells in producing anti-dsDNA antibodies is limited due to their B cell heterogeneity. This study aimed to identify peripheral B cell subpopulations that display autoreactivity to DNA and contribute to lupus pathogenesis. Methods Flow cytometry was used to detect total B cell subsets (n = 20) and DNA autoreactive B cells (n = 15) in SLE patients’ peripheral blood. Clinical disease activities were assessed in SLE patients using modified SLEDAI-2 K and used for correlation analyses with expanded B cell subsets and DNA autoreactive B cells. Results The increases of circulating double negative 2 (DN2) and activated naïve (aNAV) B cells were significantly observed in SLE patients. Expanded B cell subsets and DNA autoreactive B cells represented a high proportion of aNAV B cells with overexpression of CD69 and CD86. The frequencies of aNAV B cells in total B cell populations were significantly correlated with modified SLEDAI-2 K scores. Further analysis showed that expansion of aNAV DNA autoreactive B cells was more related to disease activity and serum anti-dsDNA antibody levels than to total aNAV B cells. Conclusion Our study demonstrated an expansion of aNAV B cells in SLE patients. The association between the frequency of aNAV B cells and disease activity patients suggested that these expanded B cells may play a role in SLE pathogenesis.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 1041.1-1041
Author(s):  
V. Agarwal ◽  
S. Kakati ◽  
P. Debbaruah

Background:SNP rs7574865, located within the third intron of STAT4 gene at chromosome 2, has been associated with susceptibility to SLE among different ethnic groups.1,2 Interestingly, we recently have documented an association between this gene and susceptibility to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in Indian population.3Objectives:To determine whether the STAT4 (rs7574865) SNP is associated with clinical and immunological manifestations in SLE.Methods:The study was carried out on 100 unrelated SLE (SLICC criteria 2012) patients from North-East India. Genotyping of STAT4 rs7574865 SNP was done using Taqman probe and Real-Time Polymerase chain reaction. An association study was performed between the alleles and genotypes of STAT4 rs7574865 with the clinical and immunological manifestations included in the SLE SLICC classification criteria. For all analysis, the statistical significance was fixed at 5% level of significance (p < 0.05).Results:The mean duration of illness was 2.69±2.55 years. Cases and Controls remained in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.The occurrence of Photosensitivity and hyperpigmentation was significantly higher in TT genotype group (97.22% and 77.77%, respectively) with p <0.001 in each case.SLE patients with nephritis (Albuminuria >500mg/24 hours) and elevated serum creatinine were both significantly higher in TT genotype group as compared to GT and GG (p< 0.001 and p=0.001 respectively).The Anti-dsDNA antibody was significantly associated with TT genotype (p <0.001).Conclusion:Our study provides evidence regarding the association between STAT4 rs7574865 gene polymorphism is risk factor for cutaneous manifestations, Lupus nephritis and Anti ds-DNA positivity in SLE. So, our findings reinforce the need for further association studies including prospective studies with larger subjects in order to replicate such findings.References:[1]Graham RR, Ph D, Hom G, Ph D, Behrens TW, Bakker PIW De, et al. and the Risk of Rheumatoid Arthritis and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. N Engl J Med. 2007;357(10):977–86.[2]Yuan H, Feng JB, Pan HF, Qiu LX, Li LH, Zhang N, et al. A meta-analysis of the association of STAT4 polymorphism with systemic lupus erythematosus. Mod Rheumatol. 2010;20(3):257–62.[3]Gupta V, Kumar S, Pratap A, Singh R, Kumari R, Kumar S, et al. Association of ITGAM, TNFSF4, TNFAIP3 and STAT4 gene polymorphisms with risk of systemic lupus erythematosus in a North Indian population. Lupus. 2018;27(12):1973–9.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


Lupus ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 80-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
E Tsakonas ◽  
L Joseph ◽  
J M Esdaile ◽  
D Choquette ◽  
...  

Cephalalgia ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 209-215 ◽  
Author(s):  
CL Rozell ◽  
WL Sibbitt ◽  
WM Brooks

Objective: To determine whether migraine in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with accentuated brain injury and disease activity. Methods: Forty SLE patients (11 without headache, 11 with non-migraine headache, and 18 with migraine) underwent clinical evaluation, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and spectroscopy (MRS). Results: Recurrent headache occurred in 75% of SLE patients. MRI abnormalities and reduced N-acetylaspartate were common. However, migraine in SLE was not associated with increased disease activity or severity, neuropsychiatrie manifestations, or end-organ involvement compared to patients without migraine ( p>0.05). There were no differences in the prevalence or severity of MRI or MRS abnormalities between SLE patients with migraine, with non-migraine headache, or without headache ( p>0.05). Conclusions: Headache does not identify SLE patients at risk for brain injury, increased disease activity, or increased end-organ involvement. Aggressive immunosuppressive therapy for headache alone is not indicated in SLE.


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