INTRODUCTION Serum interleukin (IL)-17 concentrations have been reported to be increased in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but associations with clinical characteristics are not well understood. We characterized clinical associations of serum IL-17 in SLE. METHODS We quantified IL-17 in serum samples from 98 SLE patients studied cross-sectionally, and in 246 samples from 75 of these pati...

OBJECTIVE Accurate assessment of lupus flares is critical but problematic in clinical trials. This study examined the impact of modifications to the classic Safety of Estrogens in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment (SELENA)-SLEDAI flare index (cSFI). METHODS Ninety-one SLE patient records were evaluated at two visits at which the SLEDAI and BILAG had been scored prospectively. The cSFI w...

Background: Infection is now the most common cause of morbidity in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). There is lack of information regarding the specific antibody forma-tion in response to vaccines in young SLE patients. Objective: To determine the efficacy of anti-tetanus antibody response in young patients with SLE. Methods: Forty SLE pa-tients with mean age of 14.1 years (range: 7-21) and 6...

Methods A single-center cohort study of all consecutive patients <18 years of age with biopsy proven LN diagnosed in 1980–2006 was performed. Self-designated ethnicity, clinical and laboratory features including renal function, urinalysis and overall activity (SLEDAI) were recorded. Associations of ethnicities, LN subtypes, clinical and laboratory variables were tested using chi-squared analysi...

Methods Thirty-six adolescents with SLE were evaluated to determine the characteristics of the disease. SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) was used to assess SLE status. Beside routine laboratory investigations of SLE, measurement of follicle stimulating hormone(FSH), leutinizing hormone (LH) and estrogen (E2) for females or testosterone for males before and 4 hours after LH releasing hormone ...

Methods We launched a non-interventional study with analysis of clinical, biological and pharmacokinetic information. Full-PK profiles of MPA were modelled using an iterative two-stage approach (1). The clinical status was defined by the SLEDAI, the SLE being considered active for a score ≥6. Relationships between MPA through concentrations (C0), AUC (Area Under Curve) or AUC/ dose values, and ...