Belimumab for the treatment of corticosteroid-dependent systemic lupus erythematosus: from clinical trials to real-life experience after 1 year of use in 48 Brazilian patients.
The objective of the study was to evaluate prospectively real-life experience on the effect of belimumab on patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Forty-eight patients with active SLE were evaluated after 1 year of continuous treatment. Thirty-eight patients were still on treatment at the end of 1 year, and it was possible to observe significant clinical improvement in the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) score with a decrease from 12 ± 3.0 to 2.5 ± 2.5, also a decrease on the daily steroid dose from 30 ± 12.5 to 7.5 ± 5.0 mg and partial improvement on serology. Belimumab treatment is associated with real benefit in the majority of patients that maintain active disease in spite of continuing on standard of care.
Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, Brazil. morton@osite.com.br.|Hospital AACD Clinical Research Division, São Paulo, Brazil. morton@osite.com.br.
Morton
M
Scheinberg
Hospital Unimed Volta Redonda, Rio de Janeiro, Volta Redonda, Brazil.
Flavio Fernando Nogueira
FF
de Melo
Centro Medico Varginha, Hospital Humanitas, University of Alfenas, Minas Gerais, Alfenas, Brazil.
Adrian Nogueira
AN
Bueno
Centro Medico Varginha, Hospital Humanitas, Minas Gerais, Varginha, Brazil.
Carolyne Mendes
CM
Costa
Centro Medico Varginha, Hospital Humanitas, Minas Gerais, Varginha, Brazil.
Maria Lucia Alvares
ML
de Azevedo Bahr
Centro Medico Varginha, Hospital Humanitas, Minas Gerais, Varginha, Brazil.
Enio Ribeiro
ER
Reis
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001938:Brazil; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D008180:Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; C511911:belimumab
Rheumatic diseases; SLE