The management of systemic lupus erythematosus: Facts and controversies

Burden of lupus on work: Issues in the employment of individuals with lupus

BACKGROUND

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or Lupus is one of the leading causes of work disability in the United States, accounting for about 20% of the more than estimated 1.5 million Americans with a work disability. The symptoms of lupus can have a profound impact on the person's employment. Impacts of lupus are more pronounced among young and middle-adulthood. Studies have shown that loss in work hours cost the nation nearly $13 billion annually. The loss also impacts the individual's work, quality of life, self-management, and self-efficacy.

OBJECTIVE

In this article, the author describes the financial burden of lupus. The article also describes the substantial impact of lupus on employment outcomes for individuals living with the condition. The author also reviews major signs and symptoms of disease and their impact on employment.

RESULTS

Findings from this research can be used to identify various accommodations and strategies for individuals to prevent flare-ups.

CONCLUSIONS

The paper presents innovative strategies that include early interventions and how employers andco-workers can provide helpful support that includes job accommodations to individuals with lupus.

Epratuzumab for patients with moderate to severe flaring SLE: health-related quality of life outcomes and corticosteroid use in the randomized controlled ALLEVIATE trials and extension study SL0006

Objective. To evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and corticosteroid use in patients with moderate to severely active SLE enrolled in two international, multicentre, randomized controlled trials of epratuzumab (ALLEVIATE-1 and -2) and a long-term extension study (SL0006).

Methods. Ninety ALLEVIATE patients (43% BILAG A, mean BILAG score 13.2) were randomized to receive 360 mg/m² (n = 42) or 720 mg/m² (n = 11) epratuzumab or placebo (n = 37), plus standard of care, in 12-week cycles. Corticosteroid use, patient and physician global assessments of disease activity (PtGA and PGA) and 36-item Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form (SF-36) results were recorded at baseline and every 4 weeks. Both trials were prematurely discontinued due to a drug supply interruption; patients followed for ≥6 months were analysed. Twenty-nine patients continued in SL0006, with interim analysis at a median exposure of 120 (range 13–184) weeks.

Results. At week 12, proportions of patients with a PGA ≥20% above baseline or with a PtGA improvement greater than or equal to the minimum clinically important difference were higher in the epratuzumab arms than the placebo arm. PGA and PtGA improvements were sustained but did not reach statistical significance. At week 24, mean cumulative corticosteroid doses with epratuzumab 360 and 720 mg/m² were 1051 and 1973 mg less than placebo (P = 0.034 and 0.081, respectively). At week 48, SF-36 scores approached or exceeded US age- and gender-matched norms in five domains with the 360 mg/m² treatment. Improvements were maintained in SL0006 over ∼2 years.

Conclusion. Epratuzumab treatment produced clinically meaningful and sustained improvements in PGA, PtGA and HRQOL and reductions in corticosteroid doses.

Limitations of current treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus: a patient and physician survey

An independent cross-sectional survey assessed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) disease and treatment burden. Variables included medication classes prescribed, disease activity, flare occurrences, treatment satisfaction, and validated measures of health-related quality of life (HRQoL), fatigue and work productivity. Of 886 eligible patients (mean age 41.3 years, 89% female), 515 completed the survey. One-third reported moderate-to-severe disease activity, and 31% had flared in the last 12 months. Higher severity of disease activity (moderate-to-severe) was associated with ≥2 medication classes prescribed and treatment regimens that included corticosteroids (CS) (both p < 0.0001). Patients receiving CS reported lower EQ-5D scores ( p = 0.0019) and higher fatigue levels ( p < 0.001), and both patients ( p = 0.0019) and physicians ( p = 0.0001) were less likely to report satisfaction with treatment regimens including CS. Among responders eligible for work ( n = 456), severity of disease activity (moderate-to-severe vs. mild) was associated with unemployment (52.9% vs. 40.8%; p = 0.0189), greater impairment in work productivity (36% vs. 21%; p = 0.0003) and participation in daily activities (41% vs. 21%; p < 0.0001). This survey confirms that SLE and current treatment options substantially impair patients' health status and work productivity. Physician- and patient-reported satisfaction with current treatment regimens, despite poorly controlled disease activity, indicate they are resigned to the limitations of available SLE treatment regimens.

The many faces of Janus kinase

Janus kinases have proved to be essential for many immunological processes but there is growing evidence that they also play a critical role in pathogenesis of many diseases including inflammatory diseases and cancer where they promote multiple steps of tumorigenesis. Several companies are in late stage clinical programs for the development of JAK kinase inhibitors and the first small molecule JAK inhibitor, Jakafi® (ruxolitinib) has been just approved for treatment of myeloproliferative neoplasms. Several other molecules are on the rise to treat arthritis, psoriasis and multiple types of cancer. This commentary will provide a review of the JAK kinase field as it pertains to small molecule inhibition for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases with an emphasis on JAK2. The use of experimental and clinical inhibitors of JAK will be discussed for solid tumor and hematological malignancies, lupus, arthritis, colitis, neurological disorders, pain, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In addition, it will review current paradigms in the field and treatment programs which could be complemented by small molecule inhibitors of Janus kinase.