Comparison of an administrative algorithm for SLE disease severity to clinical SLE Disease Activity Index scores

The BILAG-2004 index is sensitive to change for assessment of SLE disease activity

OBJECTIVE To determine if the BILAG-2004 index is sensitive to change for assessment of SLE disease activity. METHODS This was a prospective multi-centre longitudinal study of SLE patients. At every assessment, data were collected on disease activity (BILAG-2004 index) and treatment. Analyses were performed using overall BILAG-2004 index score (as determined by the highest score achieved by a...

The BILAG2004-Pregnancy index is reliable for assessment of disease activity in pregnant SLE patients

OBJECTIVE To assess the inter-rater reliability of the BILAG2004-Pregnancy index for assessment of SLE disease activity in pregnancy. METHODS Pregnant SLE patients were recruited from four centres and assessed separately by two raters/physicians in routine clinical practice. Disease activity was determined using the BILAG2004-Pregnancy index. Reliability was assessed using level of agreement,...

Ethnic differences in pediatric SLE early disease severity: a comparison between Hispanic-Americans and European-Americans

Purpose Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease with higher incidence and increased disease severity, including increased medication requirements and morbidity, in people not uniquely of European descent. Few studies explore the differences between ethnic groups at presentation and early in the disease process, and no studies exist to our knowledge specifically evaluating th...

Progress in defining clinically meaningful changes for clinical trials in nonrenal manifestations of SLE disease activity

Since the 2002 Dusseldorf meeting, one new agent, Benlysta, has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for systemic lupus erythematosus. Experiences from the field in conducting trials of all the agents tested during this period have provided valuable practical insights. There has been incremental progress in defining the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) of key disea...

Atherogenesis and Vascular Disease in SLE