Systemic Lupus Erythematosus SLE - Biotech, Pharma and Life Science Channel
Lupus is an autoimmune disease characterized by acute and chronic inflammation of various tissues of the body. Because the antibodies and accompanying cells of inflammation can affect tissues anywhere in the body, lupus has the potential to affect a variety of areas. Sometimes lupus can cause disease of the skin, heart, lungs, kidneys, joints, and/or nervous system. When only the skin is involved, the condition is called lupus dermatitis or cutaneous lupus erythematosus. When internal organs are involved, the condition is referred to as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Both discoid and systemic lupus are more common in women than men (about eight times more common). The disease can affect all ages but most commonly begins from 20-45 years of age. Statistics demonstrate that lupus is somewhat more frequent in African Americans and people of Chinese and Japanese descent.
Overall, the outlook for people with systemic lupus is improving each decade with the development of more accurate monitoring tests and treatments. The role of the immune system in causing diseases is becoming better understood through research. This knowledge will be applied to design safer and more effective treatment methods. For example, completely revising the immune system of people with extremely aggressive treatments that virtually temporarily wipe out the immune system is being evaluated. Current studies involve immune eradication with or without replacement of cells that can re-establish the immune system (stem cell transplantation).
Source; www.medicinenet.com
Lupus is a systemic autoimmune disease that can affect any part of the body. As with other autoimmune diseases, the immune system attacks the body’s cells and tissue resulting in inflammation and tissue damage. The most common areas of damage are the heart, joints, skin, lungs, blood vessels, liver, kidneys and nervous system. The cause of the disease is difficult to identify but can be triggered by a viral infection, strong medication, trauma, sunlight and puberty, childbirth and menopause in women. Periods of illness known as flares alternate with remissions. There is no cure for SLE; it is treated with immunosuppression, mainly cyclophosphamide and corticosteroids. It is reported that between 10-15 per cent of people with lupus will die prematurely due to complications of lupus.
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PubMed Articles
Systemic lupus erythematosus-related pancreatitis in children.
We report on three patients who developed four episodes of acute pancreatitis while their systemic lupus erythematosus was active and being treated with prednisolone. In all three, gastritis was first...
Drug-induced lupus and autoimmune hepatitis secondary to infliximab for psoriasis.
We describe a case of previously unreported autoimmune hepatitis and lupus-like syndrome induced by infliximab treatment for chronic plaque psoriasis. The condition resolved after withdrawal of inflix...
Tocilizumab is a highly effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Furthermore, a large amount of case study data reveals that to...
Decreased serum interleukin 27 in Brazilian systemic lupus erythematosus patients.
The immunological role of interleukin 27 has been reported in various inflammatory diseases, but its importance in systemic lupus erythematosus pathogenesis is not completely established. The aim of t...
Cyclophosphamide versus mycophenolate mofetil for initial treatment of lupus nephritis.
Progression of carotid atherosclerosis in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
The progression of carotid atherosclerosis in lupus patients is frequently encountered, and it is determined by both traditional and nontraditional risk factors. Of the 181 patients initially included...
The complement system is a component of the innate immune system. Its main function was initially believed to be limited to the recognition and elimination of pathogens through direct killing or stimu...
This study shows the diagnostic outcome of an APTT-based and two dRVVT-based commercial confirmatory integrated tests with the application of the recommendations by the Scientific and Standardization...
B-cell targeted therapy for children and adolescents with rheumatic diseases.
The introduction of cytokine-targeted therapies has significantly improved the treatment options of rheumatic diseases; however, some patients are also refractory to these treatment measures. The B ce...
The objective of the study was to investigate the possibility whether the in vitro treatment with vitamin D3 can restore the impaired expression of protein kinase C (PKC) isoenzymes and IL-2 productio...
News Articles
Edison Investment - Neovacs - Moving forward in rheumatoid arthritis
Neovacs intends to initiate a Phase IIb trial with its lead product TNFα-Kinoid in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The strategy is designed to maintain momentum of the programme while it seeks a pa...
Mechelen, Belgium; 17 May 2013 - Galapagos NV (Euronext: GLPG) announced today that the operational and financial results achieved thus far in 2013 encourage the Company to retain full year 2013 Grou...
Belgium's Galapagos says on track to meet 2013 guidance
BRUSSELS, May 17 (Reuters) - Galapagos, the Belgian developer of drugs to fight autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis, said it was on track to meet its full-year revenue guidance...
El Salvador court hears arguments in abortion case
El Salvador’s Supreme Court heard opening arguments Wednesday in a landmark abortion case in which a woman suffering from kidney failure and lupus has not been allowed to terminate a pregnancy i...
LRI National Patient Coalition Advocacy Culminates in Launch of Federal Provider Education Program
NEW YORK, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) National Patient Coalition participated in today's launch of the Lupus Initiative®, the culmination of its five-yea...
NEW YORK, May 14, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- In recognition of Lupus Awareness Month, the Lupus Foundation of America is hosting a number of programs throughout New York City where New Yorke...
Neu zum Welt-Lupus-Tag: www.lebenmitlupus.at
- Aufklärung über seltene Autoimmunerkrankung - Patientenbroschüren und -Workshops Am 10. Mai, dem Welt-Lupus-Tag, startet die neue Website www.lebenmitlupus.at mit Info...
Managing My Personal Health Record: My Story of Living with Lupus
When I was 15 years old I was diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erthamatosis (Lupus). My parents and I didn’t really know or understand what Lupus was, but we knew that people died from it and that I ne...
Anthera Pharmaceuticals Reports 2013 First Quarter Financial Results
HAYWARD, Calif., May 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Anthera Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (NASDAQ: ANTH), today announced financial results and business highlights for the quarter ended March 31st, 2013. Fir...
NEW YORK, May 10, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Affecting millions worldwide, lupus does not recognize national boundaries. For World Lupus Awareness Day 2013, the Lupus Research Institute (LRI) and the S.L.E....
Events
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Companies
The International Society for Interferon and Cytokine Research (ISICR), based in Bethesda, Md., is a non-profit organization devoted to interferon, cytokine and chemokine r...
Lupus Foundation of America, Inc. (LFA)
The LFA is the foremost national nonprofit health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus, and providing support, services, and hope to all people affec...
Ignyta, Inc., located in San Diego, California, is a personalized medicine company developing revolutionary new products and services to customize diagnosis and treatment of patie...
The LFA is the foremost national nonprofit voluntary health organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus, and providing support, services, and hope to all pe...
Lupus Foundation of America (LFA)
The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) is the foremost national nonprofit organization dedicated to finding the causes of and cure for lupus, and providing support, services, and h...
ImmuPharma is a drug discovery and development group with its key operations in London and subsidiaries in Mulhouse, France and Basle, Switzerland. The Company aims to develop nov...
Resolve Therapeutics is a privately held biotechnology company based in Seattle that is dedicated to helping patients with lupus through the development of RSLV-125, its novel tar...
Lupus Foundation of America, Inc.
Adamis Pharmaceuticals Corporation
La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company is a biopharmaceutical company. La Jolla had historically focused substantially all of its research, development and clinical efforts and financial...
Lycera Corp. is focused on the discovery and development of small-molecule immunomodulators for the treatment of immunologic diseases, including psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus erythematosis, i...
Clinical Trials
Autoimmunity in Sisters of Lupus Patients
This study enrolled over 400 unaffected sisters of young women diagnosed with SLE. These unaffected sisters are being followed with an annual health questionnaire (CSQ) and blood sample.
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of DHEA on endothelial dysfunction in patients with systemic lupus by measuring: 1. changes in brachial artery flow-mediated dilatati...
Several studies have shown that persons with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have poor general health and a higher risk of heart attack and bone loss (osteoporosis) compared to the gene...
Although SLE and RA are correlated with genetic predisposing factors such as human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class II, both diseases and other genetic factors might have contributed to the d...
Triptorelin for Ovary Protection in Childhood Onset Lupus
The purpose of this study is to test the safety of triptorelin when used for the protection of the ovaries (pair of female reproductive organs) during cyclophosphamide therapy for systemic...
Clinical Research Core Dental Screening Protocol
This study will screen patients for eligibility in studies sponsored by the Craniofacial Genetics Section (HCGS), the Clinical Research Core (CRC), and other branches located within the Na...
The purpose of this study is to test the safety of triptorelin when used for the protection of the ovaries (pair of female reproductive organs) during cyclophosphamide therapy for systemic...
Lymphocyte Depletion and Stem Cell Transplantation to Treat Severe Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
This study will examine a new approach to treating patient with severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that involves collecting stem cells (cells produced by the bone marrow that develo...
Antiphospholipid Syndrome Collaborative Registry (APSCORE)
Antiphospholipid Syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disorder in which the body recognizes certain normal components of blood and/or cell membranes as foreign substances and produces antibodie...
Atherosclerosis Prevention in Pediatric Lupus Erythematosus (APPLE)
High cholesterol levels are common in people with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). Atorvastatin is a drug that reduces cholesterol levels. This study will test whether atorvastatin can...
Videos
Lupus: A Disease Overview
This video provides a brief introduction for lupus, more formally known as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The video provides an overview of who gets lup...
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Procainamide
A derivative of PROCAINE with less CNS action. It also acts as a non-nucleoside inhibitor of DNA METHYLATION and has led to SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS.
Tuberculosis, Cutaneous
Tuberculosis of the skin. It includes scrofuloderma and tuberculid, but not LUPUS VULGARIS.
Glomerulonephritis, Membranoproliferative
Chronic glomerulonephritis characterized histologically by proliferation of MESANGIAL CELLS, increase in the MESANGIAL EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX, and a thickening of the glomerular capillary walls. This may appear as a primary disorder or secondary to other diseases including infections and autoimmune disease SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS. Various subtypes are classified by their abnormal ultrastructures and immune deposits. Hypocomplementemia is a characteristic feature of all types of MPGN.
Panniculitis, Lupus Erythematosus
A type of lupus erythematosus characterized by deep dermal or subcutaneous nodules, most often on the head, face, or upper arms. It is generally chronic and occurs most often in women between the ages of 20 and 45.
Hla-dr3 Antigen
Human immune-response, D-related antigen encoded by the D locus on chromosome 6 and found on lymphoid cells. It is in linkage disequilibrium with HLA-A1 and HLA-B8. The HLA-DR3 antigen is strongly associated with celiac disease, Grave's disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, early-age onset myasthenia gravis, systemic lupus erythematosus, juvenile diabetes, and opportunistic infections in AIDS.
