Anti-BLyS Treatment of 36 Israeli Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients.
Isr Med Assoc J
; 19(1): 44-48, 2017 Jan.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-28457114
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Anti-BLyS treatment with the human belimumab monoclonal antibody was shown to be a safe and effective therapeutic modality in lupus patients with active disease (i.e., without significant neurological/renal involvement) despite standard treatment.OBJECTIVES:
To evaluate the "real-life" safety and efficacy of belimumab added to standard therapy in patents with active lupus in five Israeli medical centers.METHODS:
We conducted a retrospective open-labeled study of 36 lupus patients who received belimumab monthly for at least 1 year in addition to standard treatment. Laboratory tests (C3/C4, anti dsDNA autoantibodies, chemistry, urinalysis and complete blood count) were done every 3-4 months. Adverse events were obtained from patients' medical records. Efficacy assessment by the treating physicians was defined as excellent, good/partial, or no response.RESULTS:
The study group comprised 36 lupus patients (8 males, 28 females) with a mean age of 41.6 } 12.2 years. Belimumab was given for a mean period of 2.3 } 1.7 years (range 1-7). None of the patients discontinued belimumab due to adverse events. Four patients (11.1%) had an infection related to belimumab. Only 5 patients (13.9%) stopped taking belimumab due to lack of efficacy. The response was excellent in 25 patients (69.5%) and good/partial in the other 6 (16.6%). Concomitantly, serological response (reduction of C3/C4 and anti-dsDNA autoantibodies) was also observed. Moreover, following belimumab treatment, there was a significant reduction in the usage of corticosteroids (from 100% to 27.7%) and immunosuppressive agents (from 83.3% to 8.3%).CONCLUSIONS:
Belimumab, in addition to standard therapy, is a safe and effective treatment for active lupus patients.
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Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Anticuerpos Monoclonales Humanizados
/
Inmunosupresores
/
Lupus Eritematoso Sistémico
Tipo de estudio:
Observational_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Adult
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Male
País como asunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Año:
2017
Tipo del documento:
Article