Classification and definition of major flares in SLE clinical trials.
Multiple reliable and valid disease activities indices exist and have been used successfully in longitudinal studies. However, the definition of flare, using these intruments, has not been universally decided or accepted. Because flare is one of the three major patterns of lupus activity, it will remain an important outcome measure in both longitudinal and clinical trial studies.
Petri
M
M
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, Baltimore, MD, USA. mpetri@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu
Buyon
J
J
Kim
M
M
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic / Q000379:methods*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000145:classification / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012107:Research Design; D012720:Severity of Illness Index