Anifrolumab in the Management of Lupus Headaches: A Case Report

This case report discusses a 52-year-old woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who experienced significant improvement in her lupus headaches after starting anifrolumab treatment. Her condition was previously unresponsive to various treatments, including glucocorticoids, hydroxychloroquine, and belimumab. After 5 months of anifrolumab 300 mg monthly, her headaches and systemic symptoms resolved, with normalized laboratory results. Anifrolumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting type I interferon receptor, has shown rapid effectiveness in severe and refractory SLE cases, particularly for patients with cutaneous, joint, and neurological involvement. This case supports anifrolumab's potential benefit for SLE patients with neurological symptoms, including lupus headaches.