title: Predictors of flares and long-term outcome of systemic lupus erythematosus during combined treatment with azathioprine and low-dose prednisolone.
abstract: Many patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) receive long-term treatment with azathioprine and prednisolone to control disease activity. In a retrospective study we evaluated the efficacy of combined treatment with azathioprine (2 mg/kg body weight/d) and low-dose prednisolone (7-12 mg/d) and the predictors of disease flares during this therapy regimen in 61 patients with SLE. We found three predictors of flares: renal disease, persistence of dsDNA antibodies for at least 1 year after the beginning of treatment and reduction in azathioprine dosage to below 2 mg/kg/d. The occurrence of flares was significantly associated with a higher rate of disease-related death. Furthermore, the persistence of dsDNA antibodies for at least 2 years was associated with progression of renal disease. We concluded that suppression of production of dsDNA antibodies with high avidity is a suitable parameter to determine efficacy of treatment and long-term outcome during combined therapy with azathioprine and low-dose prednisolone in SLE.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Internal Medicine IV, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Oelzner
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Abendroth
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hein
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Stein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D018501:Antirheumatic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D018501:Antirheumatic Agents; D011239:Prednisolone; D001379:Azathioprine