Lupus

There are several new positive RCTs for JAK inhibitors. Here is a summary of trials and new indications for JAKi in GCA, pediatrics, GI, dermatology and more.

Glucocorticoids (GC) have been the mainstay of treatment in SLE for nearly three quarters of a century. GC induce a range of anti-inflammatory effects, quickly relieve some symptoms and lower mortality in some life-threatening flares. However, they also have multiple side effects that limit the duration of treatment, as well as the dose used. Accordingly, the 2023 EULAR recommendations for SLE set a target dose of ≤5mg/day. Is low dose GC an

With a better understanding of pathophysiology, improved management guidelines, available medications, and a multidisciplinary approach, pregnancy for lupus patients has become more feasible. Despite these improvements, some patients still experience poor outcomes, highlighting the need for biomarkers that can predict these risks. An abstract presented at #EULAR2024 (POS1393) explored this possibility.

In the wake of the EULAR 2023 guidelines on the management of SLE, it is perhaps pertinent that the EULAR 2024 congress features three abstracts from a large integrated analysis from five international Phase 3 belimumab trials in adults with active SLE (BLISS-76, BLISS-52, North East Asia, EMBRACE and BLISS-SC). Participants were randomised to belimumab (10 mg/kg/month intravenously or 200 mg/week subcutaneously) or placebo, plus standard

Wednesday was Day One at EULAR 2024 in Vienna. While the day was a slow start, the poster halls and auditoriums quickly filled with thousands of rheumatologists, eager to reunite at this international educational forum. Below are a few of my favorites from Day 1.

Large language models, such as ChatGPT, are advanced systems trained on vast amounts of text data, far exceeding what a human can read in a lifetime, to understand and generate human-like language. With these tools at our disposal, they are inevitably making their way into healthcare. One notable example is response optimization for SLE patients, as highlighted in abstract #0989.

Inhibition of B cell activating factor (BAFF) and B cell depletion are the two most evaluated strategies over the last 15 years in the field of SLE therapeutics, with licensing of belimumab and off-label use of rituximab. Despite this, some patients remain refractory to these effective therapies.