Redefining When to Biopsy the Kidney in Patients with SLE
Abstract format and assignment number: Oral presentation 0772
Presenting author: M Petri (USA)
Date: Sunday 26th October 2025
Lupus nephritis is a severe complication of systemic lupus erythematosus. The threshold of 0.5 g/g of proteinuria is often used to determine when to biopsy. Is this presentation, 28 cases of patients with proteinuria between 0.25 g/g and 0.49 g/l and at least one other factor for lupus nephritis were included. Among them, 70% had histological lupus nephritis. Hypocomplementemia was the most important predictive factor in this study.
Trajectories and risk factors of interstitial lung disease in limited cutaneous systemic sclerosis from the EUSTAR cohort
Abstract format and assignment number: Oral presentation 0879
Presenting author: A Tonutti (Italy)
Date: Monday, 27th October 2025
The limited form of systemic sclerosis (SSc) is often neglected and considered as less severe as the diffuse form. In this study based on the EUSTAR cohort, the objective was to better characterize the lung involvement of limited forms of SSc. Interstitial lung disease (ILD) was present in 36% of the patients with limited SSc and was associated with anti-Scl70. As in diffuse SSc, ILD was more frequent in older patients, patients with digital ulcers, proximal skin fibrosis and esophageal involvement.
Certolizumab Pegol to Prevent Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients with Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Lupus Anticoagulant (IMPACT): Results from Ongoing Recruitment of a Prospective, Single-Arm, Open-Label, Phase 2 Trial
Abstract format and assignment number: Oral presentation 0855
Presenting author: J Salmon (USA)
Date: Monday, 27th October 2025
Obstetrical complications are an important burden in antiphospholipid syndrome. The usual association of aspirin and heparin is not always effective. In this trial, certolizumab was administered to 57 pregnant women between the 8th and 28th weeks of pregnancy. Only 9 patients had an unfavorable outcome according to the prespecified criteria. Most women suffered a fetal death during a previous pregnancy whereas 94% of fetuses survived under certolizumab.
Defining Safe Hydroxychloroquine Blood Levels: Time to Switch to Precision Monitoring for Optimized Lupus Care
Abstract format and assignment number: Oral presentation 1722
Presenting author: S Garg (USA)
Date: Tuesday; 28th October 2025
The optimal dosage of hydroxychloroquine in systemic lupus erythematosus is still a matter of debate. In 6 cohorts and prospective studies from the USA and France (842 patients) the authors tried to validate the optimal blood level for hydroxychloroquine. The optimal range would be between 750 and 1150 µg/l to avoid flares (under 750 µg/l) or complications (over 1150 µg/l). This plea for monitoring open the door to the optimization of hydroxychloroquine dosage.
Ianalumab demonstrates significant reduction in disease activity in patients with Sjögren’s disease: Efficacy and safety results from two global Phase 3, randomized, placebo-controlled double-blind studies (NEPTUNUS-1 and NEPTUNUS-2)
Abstract format and assignment number: Oral presentation LB24
Presenting author: T. Grader-Beck (USA)
Date: Wednesday, 29th October 2025
So far, there is no drug approved for Sjögren’s disease. In these two phase 3 clinical trial, ianalumab (a monoclonal antibody targeting BAFF-R) demonstrated its superiority to placebo on the systemic activity of the disease (ESSDAI) but also on the patient’s symptoms (patient’s global assessment and salivary flow) despite a huge placebo effect. Ianalumab might be the first drug to be approved in Sjögren’s disease.
Guillermo Carvajal Alegria
Guillermo is professor of rheumatology at the University of Tours and in the rheumatology department of the Tours University Hospital, France. His research interests are polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis, ultrasonography and procedures for clinical research and administration of biopharmaceuticals for scientific research. He is part of the board of directors of the French Rheumatology Society and of steering committee of the French College of Teaching Rheumatologists.
He is a member of the EMEUNET Education sub-committee.