Iaccarino et al. [11] investigated effectiveness and safety of belimumab with a prospective cohort study. All 67 patients were required to fulfill the 1982 ACR revised criteria for SLE and have active/refractory disease manifestations, detectable anti-dsDNA antibodies and low C3 or C4 serum levels; exclusion criteria were severe lupus nephritis (proteinuria > 6 g/24 h or creatinine > 2 mg/dl), severe active neuropsychiatric lupus, potentially life-threatening SLE manifestations and ongoing or planned pregnancy.
Clinical scores (i.e. SLEDAI-2K score, SELENA-SLEDAI Flare Index, SLICC/SDI score), daily prednisone intake, and laboratory parameters (i.e. white blood cells, anti-dsDNA antibody, C3 and C4 levels) were collected at baseline and at …show more content…
persistent, deforming, erosive joint inflammation) (p=0.08).
Also cutaneous manifestations had a good response to the drug, with a decrease in median CLASI score in both subacute cutaneous (SCLE) and acute cutaneous SLE (ACLE) manifestations; the difference between the two groups of patients was not statistically significant.
The flare rate 12 months and 24 months before belimumab initiation was 78 flares/100 patients and 150 flares/100 patients respectively.
Nineteen flares were observed in 15 patients during follow up, with a rate of 26 flares/100 patients/12 months and 44 flares/100 patients/24 months after belimumab initiation; the decrease in the flare rate was statistically significant in both periods (p=0.001).
Patients with SLE have a poor long-term prognosis due to continuous damage accrual which is fostered by persistent disease activity, disease flares and prolonged corticosteroid therapy [14]. Notably, damage accrual, assessed with SDI (SLICC/ACR Damage Index) [15], remained unchanged during the 2-year follow up after belimumab initiation. This may be due to the decrease in mean disease activity scores and in corticosteroid use in the
Clinical scores (i.e. SLEDAI-2K score, SELENA-SLEDAI Flare Index, SLICC/SDI score), daily prednisone intake, and laboratory parameters (i.e. white blood cells, anti-dsDNA antibody, C3 and C4 levels) were collected at baseline and at …show more content…
persistent, deforming, erosive joint inflammation) (p=0.08).
Also cutaneous manifestations had a good response to the drug, with a decrease in median CLASI score in both subacute cutaneous (SCLE) and acute cutaneous SLE (ACLE) manifestations; the difference between the two groups of patients was not statistically significant.
The flare rate 12 months and 24 months before belimumab initiation was 78 flares/100 patients and 150 flares/100 patients respectively.
Nineteen flares were observed in 15 patients during follow up, with a rate of 26 flares/100 patients/12 months and 44 flares/100 patients/24 months after belimumab initiation; the decrease in the flare rate was statistically significant in both periods (p=0.001).
Patients with SLE have a poor long-term prognosis due to continuous damage accrual which is fostered by persistent disease activity, disease flares and prolonged corticosteroid therapy [14]. Notably, damage accrual, assessed with SDI (SLICC/ACR Damage Index) [15], remained unchanged during the 2-year follow up after belimumab initiation. This may be due to the decrease in mean disease activity scores and in corticosteroid use in the