RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Safety and Efficacy of Belimumab to Treat Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in Academic Clinical Practices
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP 2288
OP 2295
DO 10.3899/jrheum.150470
VO 42
IS 12
A1 Joyce S. Hui-Yuen
A1 Arthi Reddy
A1 Jennifer Taylor
A1 Xiaoqing Li
A1 Andrew H. Eichenfield
A1 Liza M. Bermudez
A1 Amy J. Starr
A1 Lisa F. Imundo
A1 Jill Buyon
A1 Richard A. Furie
A1 Diane L. Kamen
A1 Susan Manzi
A1 Michelle Petri
A1 Rosalind Ramsey-Goldman
A1 Ronald F. van Vollenhoven
A1 Daniel J. Wallace
A1 Anca Askanase
YR 2015
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/42/12/2288.abstract
AB Objective. To evaluate the use and efficacy of belimumab in academic practices. Belimumab is a human monoclonal antibody that inhibits soluble B lymphocyte stimulator and has been approved for the treatment of adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).Methods. Invitations to participate and complete a 1-page questionnaire for each patient prescribed belimumab were sent to 16 physicians experienced in SLE phase III clinical trials. The outcome was defined as the physician’s impression of improvement in the initial manifestation(s) being treated without worsening in other organ systems.Results. Of 195 patients treated with belimumab at 10 academic centers, 96% were taking background medications for SLE at initiation of belimumab, with 74% taking corticosteroids. The main indications for initiation of belimumab were arthritis, rash, and/or worsening serologic activity, with 30% of patients unable to taper corticosteroids. Of the 120 patients taking belimumab for at least 6 months, 51% responded clinically and 67% had ≥ 25% improvement in laboratory values. While numbers are limited, black patients showed improvement at 6 months. In a subset of 39 patients with childhood-onset SLE, 65% responded favorably at 6 months, and 35% discontinued corticosteroids.Conclusion. Our data demonstrate favorable clinical and laboratory outcomes in patients with SLE at 6 months across all racial and ethnic groups, with similar improvement seen among patients with childhood-onset SLE.