Skip to main content

News

Lupus Nephritis 2024 Guidelines

The ACR has published evidence-based and expert guidance for the screening, treatment, and management of lupus nephritis (LN). These are the same guidelines presented at ACR Convergence 2024. 

Assessing and Treating CV Risk Increases in Systemic Lupus

We’ve recognized the increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in SLE for almost half a century since Urowitz et al. first described a bimodal pattern of mortality in lupus patients in 1976. Numerous subsequent studies have confirmed this, with estimates of increased risk ranging from 2-10-fold compared to the general population. Most striking is the risk in young patients; in their landmark study, Manzi et al. found that women with SLE in the 35–44-year age group had an almost 50-fold increased risk of myocardial infarction compared to age-matched women without SLE.

Lupus in an empty house

The full house immunofluorescence pattern is the classic histopathologic finding of lupus and lupus nephritis. Glomerular deposits staining for IgG, IgA, IgM, C3 and C1q can help confirm a suspected diagnosis of SLE. But what about patients with negative immunofluorescence and no proliferative or membranous features?

Smoking & Autoantibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Investigators from the Netherlands have published their findings that smoking is a risk factor in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), led by the induction of local autoimmune responses at mucosal sites (in the lungs) and exemplified by RA-specific autoantibodies. 

Deep remission in SLE – what is it, and can we achieve it?

Recent reports on small numbers of lupus patients treated with CAR-T cells directed against CD19+ B lymphocytes have generated considerable excitement, not so much because the initial response to this therapy was favorable, but because after follow-up durations of two years or longer the patients were reported to have an ongoing clinical remission without the need for further treatment and in the absence of most autoantibodies. This state has been referred to in terms such as “immunological remission” or “resetting the immune system”, suggesting that an important and potentially permanent change had occurred. Perhaps we can call it a Deep Remission, for now. So what is this Deep Remission?

Lessons Learned from a Lupus Registry: Two sides of one coin?

I want to talk about a large Canadian registry that sometimes doesn't get as much airtime. Our group is called CaNIOS: Canadian Network for Improved Outcomes in SLE. We've enrolled more than a thousand patients, seen at least annually and some for many years. These patients are incident or prevalent and they've consented to be in the database. So what have we learned looking at kid-onset versus adult-onset lupus?

Comparing EULAR (2025) and ACR (2020) Guidelines on Safety of Lupus Medications in Pregnancy

Attendees at the 2025 RheumaPreg meeting were excited to discuss the newly released EULAR recommendations for use of antirheumatic drugs in reproduction, pregnancy, and lactation. Table 1 summarizes the major recommendations from EULAR (2025) and the American College of Rheumatology (2020) reproductive guidelines for commonly used medications in SLE. It should be noted that these two sets of guidelines largely align, however, the updated EULAR guidelines have included some additional medications incorporating data from the last five years.

Vitamin D Headlines (5.9.2025)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and lupus highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com. Triple positivity, the gut and CRPS, and hope for better outcomes with Vitamin D therapy. 

SLE Perspectives: Past, Present, Future

From fellowship through current times to looking ahead to the future, here are my lupus perspectives.

Risk Factors for Knee Osteoarthritis

EurekAlert!
New research from the University of Sydney reveals that obesity, having a knee injury and occupational risks such as shift work and lifting heavy loads are primary causes of knee osteoarthritis.

Emulation trials in SLE: Real or Fake?

Recently a landmark paper was published in A&R studying the results of an emulation trial on SGLT2i (sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors) showing benefit in SLE patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), for both renal protection and reducing cardiovascular events, using data from an American large insurance claim database. My colleagues and I were able to write an editorial on this paper and describe emulation trials.

More Women with Autoimmune Diseases Die from Cardiovascular Disease

EurekAlert!
Women with the autoimmune diseases rheumatoid arthritis, lupus or systemic sclerosis may have a higher rate of death related to cardiovascular disease than men with the autoimmune diseases, according to new research published in the American Heart Association’s journal Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.
×