Efficacy and safety of sequential therapy with subcutaneous belimumab and one cycle of rituximab in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: the phase 3, randomised, placebo-controlled BLISS-BELIEVE study.

Objectives: Disease activity control in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with corticosteroid and immunosuppressant withdrawal is a treatment goal. We evaluated whether this could be attained with sequential subcutaneous belimumab (BEL) and one cycle of rituximab (RTX).

Methods: In this phase 3, double-blind BLISS-BELIEVE trial (GSK Study 205646), patients with active SLE initiating subcutaneous BEL 200 mg/week for 52 weeks were randomised to intravenous placebo (BEL/PBO) or intravenous RTX 1000 mg (BEL/RTX) at weeks 4 and 6 while stopping concomitant immunosuppressants/tapering corticosteroids; standard therapy for 104 weeks (BEL/ST; reference arm) was included.

Persistent hand pain despite adequate immunosuppression? The distinct value of occupational therapy in the era of biologics.

Purpose Of Review: Despite the tremendous advancement in the use of biologics, many patients with inflammatory arthritis do not achieve remission, and the risk of joint damage remains high. A multidimensional approach to treatment is essential. Joint disease in the hands and wrists may prevent patients from performing daily and valued life activities.

MR Diffusion Tractography to Identify and Characterize Microstructural White Matter Tract Changes in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients.

Purpose: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a predominantly female autoimmune disease that can affect the central nervous system. Neuropsychiatric symptoms are found in 25-70% of SLE patients. Using diffusion tensor imaging, various studies have reported changes in white matter integrity in SLE patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSLE patients).

Diminished white matter integrity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Purpose: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune connective tissue disease that can affect the central nervous system. Neuropsychiatric symptoms are found in 25-70% of patients. Using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) various studies have reported changes in white matter integrity in SLE patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPSLE patients).

Population-based incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus: the Michigan Lupus Epidemiology and Surveillance program.

Objective: To estimate the incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a sociodemographically diverse southeastern Michigan source population of 2.4 million people.

Methods: SLE cases fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria (primary case definition) or meeting rheumatologist-judged SLE criteria (secondary definition) and residing in Wayne or Washtenaw Counties during 2002-2004 were included.

Reduced Insular Glutamine and N-acetylaspartate in systemic lupus erythematosus: a single-voxel (1)H-MR spectroscopy study.

Rationale And Objectives: To investigate for differences in metabolic concentrations and ratios between patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) without (group SLE) and those with neurological symptoms (group NPSLE) compared to a healthy control (group HC) in three normal-appearing brain regions: the frontal white matter, right insula (RI), and occipital gray matter and whether changes in any of the metabolites or metabolic ratios are correlated to disease activity and other clinical parameters.

Materials And Methods: Twenty patients with SLE (18 women and 2 men, age range 23.4-64.

Perfusion-weighted MR imaging in cerebral lupus erythematosus.

Rationale And Objective: Neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) is a diagnostically challenging, severe, and life-threatening condition, which is currently lacking a "gold standard." Our aim with this study is to look for magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion differences in NPSLE, SLE, and healthy control (HC) patients and correlate our findings with clinical parameters.

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four NPSLE patients, 21 SLE patients, and 21 HC underwent dynamic susceptibility contrast enhanced MR perfusion using a 3-T scanner.

Changes in regional brain morphology in neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Neuropsychiatric lupus (NPSLE) is a severe and potentially life-threatening condition, reported to occur in 25%-70% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Brain imaging, especially magnetic resonance imaging, is frequently used to diagnose or exclude overt cerebral pathologies such as edema, hemorrhage, and central thrombosis. More advanced imaging techniques have been applied to demonstrate subtle changes in regional cerebral blood flow and brain structure.