Lupus nephritis: Biomarkers.

Lupus nephritis (LN) or renal involvement of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is a common manifestation occurring in at least 50 % of SLE patients. LN remains a significant source of morbidity, often leading to progressive renal dysfunction and is a major cause of death in SLE. Despite these challenges, advances in the understanding of the pathogenesis and genetic underpinnings of LN have led to a commendable expansion in available treatments over the past decade.

Primary headache in SLE -systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives: To systematically review and synthesize literature on: 1) the overall prevalence of primary headaches and specifically migraines, in patients with lupus since previous systematic review published in 2004; 2) the risk factors associated with primary headaches in patients with lupus; 3) the association of primary headaches with structural brain changes; and 4) "lupus headaches".

Methods: This review used (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) PRISMA guidelines and literature searches in four databases: Ovid-based Medline, Embase, PsycINFO, and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews from inception until 4/2022. Papers on primary headaches in patients with lupus were identified.

Impact of baseline proteinuria level on long-term outcomes in lupus nephritis.

Objectives: Proteinuria is a marker of lupus nephritis (LN) activity and damage. We aimed to explore the impact of baseline proteinuria level on long-term outcomes.

Methods: We included 249 patients diagnosed with their first biopsy-proven LN.

Short and Long-Term Outcomes of Patients with Pure Membranous Lupus Nephritis Compared to Patients with Proliferative Disease.

Objectives: Membranous lupus nephritis (MLN) is thought to have a more benign course than proliferative lupus nephritis (PLN). We aimed to determine the differences in short and long-term outcomes between patients with MLN and PLN.

Methods: We included patients with first biopsy-proven MLN and PLN.

Modelling long-term outcomes for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Background: New treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) aim to improve tolerability and disease activity control over standard of care (SoC) treatment. SoC typically includes daily glucocorticoid (GC) which carries a risk of organ damage over time. This study sought to develop natural history models to identify predictors of long-term outcomes with current SoC SLE treatment.

Navigating the path of progress: The OMERACT 2023 emerging leaders program.

Objectives: The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) aims to cultivate a cohort of skilled leaders within the OMERACT community empowering them with expertise and knowledge to help shape and steer the organization into the future. This publication highlights the significance of the ELP in driving leadership excellence, its impact on OMERACT's evolution, and the outcomes and learnings from the OMERACT 2023 ELP.

Methods: Insights from the 2018 ELP report informed 2023 program improvements.

Evolving and evaluating the OMERACT fellows program: insights and implications from OMERACT 2023 fellows.

Objective: To describe the evolution of the OMERACT Fellows Program (OM FP) and to evaluate the innovative changes implemented in the 2023 program.

Methods: The OM FP, the first of its kind in global rheumatology, was developed in 2000 to mentor early career researchers in methods and processes for reaching evidence-driven consensus for outcome measures in clinical studies. The OM FP has evolved through continuing iterations of face to face and online feedback.

Serum S100A8/A9 and MMP-9 levels are elevated in systemic lupus erythematosus patients with cognitive impairment.

Objective: Cognitive impairment (CI) is one of the most common manifestations of Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (NPSLE). Despite its frequency, we have a limited understanding of the underlying immune mechanisms, resulting in a lack of pathways to target. This study aims to bridge this gap by investigating differences in serum analyte levels in SLE patients based on their cognitive performance, independently from the attribution to SLE, and exploring the potential for various serum analytes to differentiate between SLE patients with and without CI.

OMERACT 2023 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Special Interest Group: Winnowing and Binning Preliminary Candidate Domains for the Core Outcome Set.

Background: The Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Working Group held a Special Interest Group (SIG) at the OMERACT 2023 conference in Colorado Springs where SLE collaborators reviewed domain sub-themes generated through qualitative research and literature review.

Objective: The objective of the SIG and the subsequent meetings of the SLE Working Group was to begin the winnowing and binning of candidate domain sub-themes into a preliminary list of candidate domains that will proceed to the consensus Delphi exercise for the SLE COS.

Methods: Four breakout groups at the SLE SIG in Colorado Springs winnowed and binned 132 domain sub-themes into candidate domains, which was continued with a series of virtual meetings by an advisory group of SLE patient research partners (PRPs), members of the OMERACT SLE Working Group Steering Committee, and other collaborators.

Systemic lupus erythematosus and damage: What has changed over the past 20 years?

The young age of onset and chronic/relapsing nature of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) make SLE patients prone to develop and accrue organ damage as a result of long-standing disease activity and side effects of treatment. There is a growing interest in objectifying damage and identifying its risk factors. Still, the lack of therapeutic alternatives has led to difficulties in avoiding immunosuppressives particularly corticosteroids, which have been implicated in a large spectrum of organ damage in SLE patients.

More Evidence on the Validity of the Measurement Properties of PROMIS Computerized Adaptive Tests in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) significantly affects different aspects of patients' health-related quality of life (HRQOL). In 1998, Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) proposed the first Core Domain Set (CDS) for SLE, which included disease activity, organ damage, adverse events, HRQOL, and economic costs..

The Effects of Systemic Lupus-Related Cognitive Impairments on Activities of Daily Living and Life Role Participation: A Qualitative Framework Study.

Objective: Cognitive impairment (CI) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) negatively impacts health-related quality of life leading to activity limitations. This qualitative study aimed to (1) explore the effect of SLE-related CI on activities of daily living and life role participation and (2) describe factors influencing activity restriction and life role participation.

Methods: Semistructured, in-depth interviews of lived experience of CI in SLE were conducted with 24 participants with SLE.

In-person versus virtual administration of the American College of Rheumatology gold standard cognitive battery in systemic lupus erythematosus: Are they interchangeable?

Objective: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many research studies were adapted, including our longitudinal study examining cognitive impairment (CI) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Cognitive testing was switched from in-person to virtual. This analysis aimed to determine if the administration method (in-person vs.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging T1 and T2 Mapping in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Relation to Antimalarial Treatment.

Purpose: Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are at risk of cardiac disease including antimalarial-induced cardiomyopathy (AMIC). The purpose of this study is to evaluate cardiac magnetic resonance imaging parametric mapping findings in SLE patients with AMIC and investigate the relationship of T1/T2 mapping to antimalarial (AM) treatment duration.

Materials And Methods: All patients with SLE who had undergone cardiac magnetic resonance imaging with T1/T2 mapping for evaluation of suspected cardiac disease between 2018 and 2021 were evaluated and compared with healthy controls.

Interferon and interferon-induced cytokines as markers of impending clinical progression in ANA individuals without a systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease diagnosis.

Background: Elevated levels of interferons (IFNs) are a characteristic feature of systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) and may be useful in predicting impending symptomatic progression in anti-nuclear antibody-positive (ANA) individuals lacking a SARD diagnosis. Typically, these are measured by their effect on gene expression in the blood, which has limited their utility in clinical settings. Here, we assessed whether the measurement of serum IFN-α or selected IFN-induced cytokines accurately mirrors IFN-induced gene expression in ANA individuals and investigated their utility as biomarkers of clinical progression.

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Clinical Follow-up in Antimalarial-induced Cardiomyopathy in Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

Antimalarial-induced cardiomyopathy is under-recognized in clinical practice and there is limited data on the evolution of cardiac imaging abnormalities after cessation of anti-malarial therapy. In this case series of 9 patients with antimalarial-induced cardiomyopathy, follow-up cardiac magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated interval increase in late gadolinium enhancement extent in 89% of patients and interval decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction in all, despite cessation of anti-malarial therapy. Progression of cardiac abnormalities despite cessation of therapy underscores the important role of imaging in the early recognition of antimalarial-related treatment changes.

Systemic lupus erythematosus phenotypes formed from machine learning with a specific focus on cognitive impairment.

Objective: To phenotype SLE based on symptom burden (disease damage, system involvement and patient reported outcomes), with a specific focus on objective and subjective cognitive function.

Methods: SLE patients ages 18-65 years underwent objective cognitive assessment using the ACR Neuropsychological Battery (ACR-NB) and data were collected on demographic and clinical variables, disease burden/activity, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), depression, anxiety, fatigue and perceived cognitive deficits. Similarity network fusion (SNF) was used to identify patient subtypes.

Association of mycophenolate and azathioprine use with cognitive function in systemic lupus.

Objectives: Cognitive dysfunction (CD) is a common manifestation of SLE that can have detrimental consequences for those affected. To date, no treatments have been approved for SLE-CD. This study aims to assess the association of azathioprine (AZA) and mycophenolate (MMF) use with SLE-CD, given that these medications have demonstrated neuroprotective qualities in prior studies.

Altered Balance of Pro-Inflammatory Immune Cells to T Regulatory Cells Differentiates Symptomatic From Asymptomatic Individuals With Anti-Nuclear Antibodies.

Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases (SARDs) are characterized by the production of anti-nuclear antibodies (ANAs). ANAs are also seen in healthy individuals and can be detected years before disease onset in SARD. Both the immunological changes that promote development of clinical symptoms in SARD and those that prevent autoimmunity in asymptomatic ANA individuals (ANA NS) remain largely unexplored.

Outcomes following antimalarial withdrawal in patients with quiescent systemic lupus erythematosus.

Objective: Antimalarial medications (AMs) are central to the management of SLE. We investigated the rate of flare in lupus patients who withdrew AM after achieving clinical remission for at least one year, compared to those who continued therapy and compared flare rates in cases who tapered AM versus abruptly withdrew.

Methods: Cases achieved clinical remission for at least one year then ceased their AM.