Achievement of Low Disease Activity in Lupus Patients Treated with Belimumab Is Independent of Serologic Status at Baseline: A Real-Life Observational Study

    June 2018
    Antonis Fanouriakis, Christina Adamichou, Sofia Koutsoviti, Stylianos Panopoulos, Chrysanthi Staveri, Anastasia Klagou, Christina Tsalapaki, L. Pantazi, Styliani Konsta, C. Mavragani, Despoina Dimopoulou, Stella Ntali, Georgios Katsikas, Kyriaki Boki, Dimitrios Vassilopoulos, Pinelopi Konstantopoulou, Stamatis‐Nick Liossis, Antonia Elezoglou, Maria G. Tektonidou, Prodromos Sidiropoulos, Abdülsamet Erden, P. Sfikakis, George Βertsias, DT Boumpas
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    Studysummary This study reported that belimumab helped over 40% of active systemic lupus erythematosus patients achieve low disease activity, with more than 20% able to stop glucocorticoids completely. Our plain-language summary of this paper — not a Tressless recommendation.
    Belimumab was found to be effective in achieving low disease activity in over 40% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, with more than 20% able to completely discontinue glucocorticoids (GC). The study included 91 patients, predominantly women, with a mean age of 45.9 years. The treatment reduced disease activity, physician global assessment scores, and daily prednisone doses, with significant improvements observed as early as 3 months. The number of flares and severe flares decreased by 62% and 50%, respectively, in the first year. Both serologically active and inactive patients responded equally well to belimumab. However, 22% of patients discontinued treatment due to inadequate response or side effects.
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