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Every day we at the Lupus Alliance of America are committed to supporting cutting edge lupus research. All Lupus Research news, whether it be on a new drug being developed, a new discovery in the genetics of lupus, the release of a study or more will be listed on this page for your convenience. This section of our website is updated on a weekly basis, so be sure to check back to see the latest news and developments.

New genomics center will study rheumatoid arthritis and lupus
Link Discovered Between Blood Clotting And Immune Response
New Enzyme Discovered That Acts As Innate Immunity Sensor: Two studies by researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center could lead to new treatments for lupus and other autoimmune diseases and strengthen current therapies for viral, bacterial, and parasitic infections.
Scientists Find A Key Element Of Lupus, Suggesting Better Drug Targets: A team led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI) has identified specific cellular events that appear key to lupus, a debilitating autoimmune disease that afflicts tens of millions of people worldwide. The findings suggest that blocking this pathway in lupus-triggering cells could be
Lenalidomide Offers An Effective Treatment For Cutaneus Lupus: Although rare there are several treatments available for cutaneus lupus erythematosus (CLE).
New anti-interferon alpha therapy for lupus nabs $5.8M: The approval of Human Genome Sciences/GlaxoSmithKline’s Benlysta last year ended a drought of new drug approvals for the autoimmune disease lupus that had lasted more than half a century.
The Impact Of Rheumatoid Arthritis & Lupus On Joint Replacement: Two new studies by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery have overturned common beliefs about joint replacement in patients with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Biomarker Pinpoints Risk for Lupus Flare: High baseline levels of the biomarker BLyS (B-lymphocyte stimulator) predicted flares among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, a large post-hoc analysis revealed.
Uranium Exposure Linked to High Lupus Rates in one Community: ScienceDaily (Nov. 10, 2012) — High rates of systemic lupus erythematosus have been linked to living in proximity to a former uranium ore processing facility in Ohio, according to new research findings presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in Washington, D.C.
Forward from Coping With Lupus
Women with lupus have a higher risk for preeclampsia: New research reports that women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a two-fold increase in risk of preeclampsia—a dangerous condition in which pregnant women develop high blood pressure (hypertension) and protein in their urine (proteinuria) after 20 weeks of gestation. According to the findings published in Arthritis Care & Research, a journal of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), use of Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs (DMARDs) during pregnancy was rare in the study population, but women who did use these medications show a statistically non-significant increase in preeclampsia risk. The risk could be explained by the severity of autoimmune disease among DMARD users.
ACR Supports Best Practices For Ultrasonography Use In Rheumatology: More rheumatologists are embracing musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) to diagnose and manage rheumatic diseases. In response, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) assembled a task force to investigate and determine best practices for use of MSUS in rheumatology practice.
Antibody found in lupus may protect against certain cancers: Yale Cancer Center researchers report that an antibody associated with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus may actually offer a treatment for certain cancers. The study appears online in the Oct. 24 issue of Science Translational Medicine.
Exagen Diagnostics Receives Avise SLE Certification In New York: Avise SLE Fills a Gap in the Auto-Immune/Connective Tissue Diagnostic Market
Pivotal Findings on Autoimmune Disease Shared at LRI Forum: 60+ Leading Scientists Participate in Premier U.S. Research Meeting Dedicated to Lupus
Current Corticosteroid Use Hikes CVE Risk in SLE Patients: Current use of corticosteroids increases cardiovascular events (CVE) risk in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but past use, in the absence of current use, does not, a study found.
Belimumab Deemed Safe for Long-Term Treatment of Lupus: Belimumab is safe for long-term administration in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, according to a study published in the October issue of Arthritis & Rheumatism.
Experimental Test Builds on LRI-Funded Research: A protein-containing computer chip developed by researchers at Stanford University and Intel could allow faster and more accurate diagnosis of lupus, according to a new report published in Nature Medicine. This important advance was facilitated by innovative research first funded by the Lupus Research Institute.</
A Molecule Found That Puts The Brakes On Inflammation: A new study led by University of Pennsylvania researchers has now identified a crucial signaling molecule involved in counterbalancing the immune system attack.
Anthera Announces the Advancement of Blisibimod into Phase 3 Trials: Anthera Announces the Advancement of Blisibimod into Phase 3 Development for Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)
Steroids, Renal Disease Hike CV Risk in Lupus: Factors associated with the metabolic syndrome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) include kidney involvement, the use of higher dose corticosteroids, and ethnicity, an international cross-sectional study found.
Heart Disease May Impair Brain Power in Lupus: Cardiovascular disease may play a major role in the premature cognitive decline that afflicts many patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, a longitudinal study revealed.
Protein might be marker for renal inflammation in patients with lupus: The nuclear nonhistone protein high mobility group box 1 might indicate renal and systemic inflammation in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, according to recent data.
No Added Benefit Proven For Belimumab For Lupus Erythematosus: Belimumab (trade name Benlysta ®) has been approved since July 2011 as an add-on therapy for adult patients with the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
House Bill 6218: Autoimmune disease patients received a win recently when U.S. Rep. Ann Marie Buerkle (R-NY) introduced House Bill 6218 to Congress. The bill would create an interdepartmental autoimmune disease coordinating committee.
Lupus Patients Benefit From The Power Of New Silicon Chip: Researchers at the Stanford University School of Medicine and Intel Corp. have collaborated to synthesize and study a grid-like array of short pieces of a disease-associated protein on silicon chips normally used in computer microprocessors.
Chronic exposure to staph bacteria may be risk factor for lupus: The findings are published online this month in The Journal of Immunology. The next step is to study lupus patients to see if the staph protein in question plays a similar role in humans, says co-author Vaidehi Chowdhary, M.D., a Mayo Clinic rheumatologist. "We think this protein could be an importa
Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation wins grants: Two Oklahoma City-based researchers secure five-year grants totaling $4.15 million to study lupus and cardiovascular disease.
Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus may often affect other organs: o best deal with complications of lupus in children, doctors need to know the natural course of the disease. If they can spot which young lupus patients are at risk, they can take steps to manage the disease closely.
Survey Shows The Burden Of Lupus On Work And Wallet: Results of a Roper survey of the lupus community highlight that in addition to the physical burdens of lupus, the disease can contribute to significant economic challenges among patients and caregivers.
Study Sheds Light On Pregnancy Complications: A study led by Hospital for Special Surgery researchers has demonstrated that women who have a specific type of antibody that interferes with blood vessel function are at risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes and that other antibodies in the same family thought to cause pregnancy complications do not
Kids with Lupus Need Better Tx: Major organ involvement can occur rapidly in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) even with near universal corticosteroid use, data from a U.K. national cohort showed.
Autoimmune Disease Rates Increasing: According to a new study the prevalence and incidence of autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, celiac disease, and type 1 diabetes, is on the rise and researchers at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention are unsure why.
Some Good News About Belly Fat: A fatty membrane in the belly called the omentum has until recently been considered somewhat like the appendix - it didn't seem to serve much purpose.
Researchers Make Important Breakthrough In Immunology: A team of researchers at the IRCM led by Dr. Andre Veillette made an important breakthrough in the field of immunology, which was published online by the scientific journal Immunity.
Discovery Expected to Shift Research Direction in Lupus and Asthma: ScienceDaily (May 27, 2012) — Newfound details of the immune system suggest a role for never-before-considered drug classes in the treatment of allergic and autoimmune diseases, according to a University of Alabama at Birmingham study published online May 27 in Nature Immunology.
Benlysta Continues to Penetrate Moderate to Severe Lupus: BioTrends Research Group, one of the world’s leading research and advisory firms for specialized biopharmaceutical issues, finds in its LaunchTrends: Benlysta Wave 4 report, that more than two-thirds of surveyed rheumatologists have initiated trial on Benlysta.
New Guidelines Issued for Severe Lupus: When diagnosed with lupus, one in three people already has kidney inflammation, and during the first 10 years with the disease as many as 60 percent of patients will have some kidney problems.
Novel Biologic Targets Lupus: Just a year after the appearance of belimumab, the first new treatment for lupus in 50 years, the anti-CD22 monoclonal antibody epratuzumab is emerging as another potential therapy, a researcher reported here.
Mouse trials suggest mononucleosis virus may supress lupus: Lupus sufferers could tap a virus to suppress their symptoms as on-going lab research offers hope for potential new treatments options.
Rare Immune Cells Could Hold Key to Treating Immune Disorders: The characterization of a rare immune cell's involvement in antibody production and ability to 'remember' infectious agents could help to improve vaccination and lead to new treatments for immune disorders, say researchers from the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute.
Virus protects against autoimmunity: To the surprise of investigating researchers, an animal model of Epstein Barr virus protected lupus-prone mice against development of the autoimmune disease. Earlier work had suggested that EBV might promote the development of autoimmunity.
Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Neurocognitive Dysfunction in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Association with Antiphospholipid Antibodies, Disease Activity and Chronic Damage
OMRF discovers three new lupus genes: A massive effort led by OMRF scientists has identified three new lupus genes.
EMD Serono Collaborates with Lupus Research Institute: The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) is very pleased to announce a new joint initiative to support innovative research in lupus with EMD Serono, the biopharmaceutical division of global pharmaceutical giant Merck KGaA Darmstadt, Germany.
R-Loops Break Walls Of Gene Silencing: Researchers at the University of California, Davis, have figured out how the human body keeps essential genes switched "on" and silences the vast stretches of genetic repeats and "junk" DNA.
Natural method for clearing cellular debris could help lupus treatment: Cells that die naturally generate a lot of internal debris that can trigger the immune system to attack the body, leading to diseases such as lupus.
Women With Rheumatoid Arthritis And Lupus Give Birth To Fewer Children: New research shows that more than half of women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have fewer children than desired.
Lupus Research Institute Awards $3.6 Million For Novel Studies: The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) today awards 12 "Novel Research Grants" to jumpstart discovery in lupus by supporting original, highly promising ideas from some of the country's most creative scientists. Studies will look at why lupus turns the body's immune system against itself and pioneer stra
Did an Evolutionary Arms Race Cause Lupus?: Evolutionary biologist Harmit Singh Malik, Ph.D., of Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, has received a $300,000 grant from the Lupus Research Institute to study the potential role of “genetic conflicts” in the development of lupus, an autoimmune disease.
Pending Methotrexate Shortage May Affect Thousands of Patients: A drug used to treat rheumatoid arthritis, childhood leukemia, lupus, and other conditions is in short supply, and many patients are worried.
Study Finds No Link Between HPV Vaccine and Autoimmune Disorders
Mutation Drives Viral Sensors To Initiate Autoimmune Disease
DNA sequence that causes severe cases of lupus identified: A team of Italian researchers have identified a 'genetic accelerator' called HS1.2, which enhances the production of the pathological antibodies that attack the patient's body rather than defend it.
More Known About Proteins That Cause Autoimmune Diseases: A new study says more than 32 million people in the United States have autoantibodies, which are proteins produced in the immune system that attack the body's tissues.
Exagen Diagnostics Launches Cutting-Edge Lupus Diagnostic: xagen Diagnostics, Inc., a specialty focused molecular diagnostics laboratory that discovers, develops and markets proprietary tests for rheumatologists and gastroenterologists, announced today the launch of Avise SLE, which aids in the diagnosis of lupus (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus).
Discoid Lupus Drug, entering Clinical Trials: Rigel Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical-stage drug development company that discovers and develops novel, small-molecule drugs for the treatment of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, as well as muscle disorders, said that two of its lead product candidates entered clinical trials during the four
Trubion Starts Lupus Trial: Trubion Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: TRBN), said today it has started a clinical trial of a drug for lupus, an autoimmune disease.
Vifor Pharma`s, Voclosporin, for treatment of Lupus Nephritis: Isotechnika Pharma Inc. (TSX:ISA) ("Isotechnika" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a Global Development and Commercialization License agreement with Vifor Pharma Ltd., the specialty pharma company of Switzerland based Galenica Group.
Transportation & Childcare Top Reasons For Missed Lupus Appts.: The first step towards successful medical care is to see a physician, but for some patients this isn't as simple or easy as it may sound.
Most women with lupus can have successful pregnancy outcomes: Results from multicenter NIH PROMISSE study find pregnancy safe for 80 percent of women with lupus
New anti-inflammatory agents silence overactive immune response
New genetic risk factors of lupus; in study of African-American women: Researchers from Boston University's Slone Epidemiology Center have found four new genetic variants in the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) that confer a higher risk of systemic lupus erythemathosus ("lupus") in African American women.
New Test Could Give SLE Patients A More Tolerable Life: At present, it can take up to a year before a patient is diagnosed with SLE. This is because the symptoms are diffuse and are often mistaken for other diseases. However, with this blood-based test, it is possible to determine quickly whether someone has the disease or not", says Christer Wingren, associate professor in Immunotechnology at CREATE Health, Lund University.
Lupus Alliance of America Survey: Results coming in Spring 2011: The Lupus Alliance of America released a survey on lupus last summer. This spring the results of this survey will be released to the public.
New Assessment Tool Helps Shed Light On Lupus In Kids Worldwide: A newly designed tool is helping researchers shed light on the quality of life (QoL) of children with lupus around the world, according to research presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) annual meeting, held Nov. 7-11, in Atlanta.
What is Benlysta?: BENLYSTA is an investigational human monoclonal antibody drug and the first in a new class of drugs called BLyS-specific inhibitors.
Lupus in men: All in the genes?
National Lupus Health Education Program
Important news for those with lupus and no Health Insurance: People With Lupus Denied Health Insurance Due To Pre-Existing Condition May Be Able To Obtain Coverage Through Health Care Reform Law Plan
Gene Linked To Lupus Might Explain Gender Difference In Disease Risk: In an international human genetic study, researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center suffer with identified a gene linked to the autoimmune disease lupus, and its location on the X chromosome power help simplify why females are 10 times more susceptible to the plague than males.
Research Archives