Author: Mert Oztas
Schett et al. (OP0141) presents the long-term clinical efficacy and safety data of the first seven SLE patients (median follow up of 13 months) receiving autologous CD19-directed CAR-T cell therapy. All patients had active kidney disease. All patients met lupus low activity state (LLDAS) usually within the first three months after CAR T cell therapy.To date, no SLE flare occurred despite complete cessation of treatment.
Van Vollenhoven et al. (OP0138) assessed the efficacy and safety of telitacicept in SLE patients in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. In this study, 335 active SLE patients who were receiving stable standard therapy and a SELENA-SLEDAI score ≥8 were randomized 1:1 to receive telitacicept 160 mg (N=167) or placebo (N=168) subcutaneously weekly for 52 weeks. The primary endpoint at Week 52 was met, with significantly greater proportion of patients in telitacicept 160 mg group vs placebo group achieving SRI4 response (82.6% vs 38.1%).
Gomez et al. (OP0052) presented a post-hoc analysis of four phase 3 trials of belimumab. The main objective was to identify predictors of renal flares in patients receiving treatment for active extra-renal SLE. SLE patients with current or former renal involvement at baseline displayed a >9-fold increased hazard to develop a new renal flare (HR: 9.4). In the pooled study population, baseline serum albumin , proteinuria and low C3 levels were robust determinants of subsequent renal flare occurrence; similar associations were found in the belimumab and placebo subgroups.
Scafati et al. (OP0231) aimed to compare the presence of non-criteria non-thrombotic manifestations of APS in patients with SLE and APS. Neurological and hematological manifestations were frequently observed in patients with secondary APS compared with SLE patients with negative antiphospholipid antibodies.
Park et al. (OP0228) disclosed the coexisting tubulointerstitial inflammation / tubulointerstitial damage was associated with a higher risk for CKD progression: adjusted hazard ratio (HR) = 2.677, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.333, 5.335), p = 0.006 for lupus nephritis patients.
Arnaud et al. (OP0046) presented a nation-wide population-based study which aimed to analyze the use of oral corticosteroids (OCS) in French patients with SLE. Among 32,178 patients, 48.2% were treated with OCS. The proportion of patients treated with high-dose OCS ≥ 7.5mg/day was 6,1%. Strikingly, 14.2% of those receiving more than 7.5 mg per day were not treated with antimalarial drugs, immunosuppressives or other biologic treatments for SLE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mert Oztas
Mert is a Rheumatology consultant at Istanbul Research and Training Hospital,Turkey.
Mert is a member of the Peer Mentoring Sub-Committee.