Use of Upadacitinib in Two Cases of Refractory Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

This case report discusses the use of upadacitinib, a selective JAK inhibitor, in two female patients with refractory systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who had not responded to multiple conventional and biological treatments. In the first case, a 54-year-old woman achieved complete disease remission and significant improvement in fatigue and headache after starting upadacitinib 15 mg/day, maintaining remission for 18 months. In the second case, a 59-year-old woman experienced low disease activity within 3 months of treatment, although she still required corticosteroids. These cases suggest that upadacitinib may be a promising option for refractory SLE, but further studies are needed to confirm its safety and efficacy in a larger population.