New developments in systemic lupus erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), is an autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks its own tissues, causing widespread inflammation and tissue damage in the affected organs (joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels). Immune dysregulation occurs at the level of cytokines, T cells, B cells or macrophages. Even though patient survival has improved from 50% in the 1950s to 90% in 1990s, only one new drug, belimumab, has been approved for the treatment of SLE in past 60 years. The challenge in treatment is due to the wide clinical and pathophysiological heterogeneity of the disease. In the past two years, several new therapies have demonstrated encouraging result- medications targeting different molecular pathways: B cells and interferon. Another potential new treatments covered in this review contains immunomodulators that restore tolerance. Details by the link.
