Measures of Adult Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Disease Activity and Damage

The document reviewed various indices for assessing disease activity and damage in adult systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), such as the BILAG 2004 index, SLEDAI 2K, SLAQ, and LFA-REAL. It highlighted the complexity of SLE and the importance of selecting appropriate measures for clinical trials and practice. The BILAG 2004 index was noted for assessing organ/system-based activity, while the SLEDAI 2K provided a global score. In a cohort of 1,783 patients, 620 met criteria for low disease activity, remission, or high disease activity. The SLAQ, a patient-reported measure, was useful for identifying patients needing further evaluation. The LFA-REAL allowed detailed tracking of disease activity across organ systems, and the CLASI focused on cutaneous manifestations. The review emphasized the need for indices that effectively measure treatment response and capture the full spectrum of SLE activity and damage.