Health-related quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and proliferative lupus nephritis

Health-related quality of life, fatigue and health utilities in lupus nephritis: A systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic, autoimmune disease characterized by abnormal B-cell activation and the presence of autoantibodies, which can result in organ damage. Lupus nephritis (LN) is the most common severe organ manifestation of SLE and may result in impaired kidney function. However, there is limited research on the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) burden amongst patients with LN. The objective of this systematic literature review was to assess the HRQoL, fatigue and health utilities associated with LN.

METHODS

A structured literature search (GSK Study 212980) of the MEDLINE and Embase databases was conducted in July 2019 and updated September 2021. Relevant international congress abstracts from 2016 to 2021 were searched, and gray literature searches and keyword-based searches in PubMed, Google, and Google Scholar were also conducted. Results were screened according to predefined criteria and data on the outcomes of interest were extracted. A quantitative analysis was conducted to supplement the narrative review, to provide 36-item Short Form survey (SF-36) estimates, and to determine variation by prognostic factors.

RESULTS

Of 1155 articles identified, 26 studies for a total of 3440 patients were included. Patients with LN showed poorer HRQoL and more fatigue than healthy controls/the general population, although these were similar between patients with SLE with and without LN. HRQoL was worse in patients with LN Class III/IV or with active disease. Fatigue was generally reported as the most burdensome symptom and was associated with lower HRQoL and increased treatment dissatisfaction. During induction treatment, HRQoL and fatigue were improved with mycophenolate mofetil versus cyclophosphamide. HRQoL improved over time with treatment amongst patients with active LN. Very limited data were identified assigning utilities to health states for cost-effectiveness analysis. Nine studies were considered for quantitative analysis of baseline SF-36 scores. The analysis suggested that LN has a significant impact across all SF-36 domains, with the lowest scores in the general health perceptions and role-physical domains and physical component summary.

CONCLUSIONS

There is a large HRQoL burden in patients with LN, in particular regarding symptoms of fatigue. Future research should focus on investigating fatigue severity and health utilities in LN.

Generation of evidence supporting the content validity of SF-36, FACIT-F, and LupusQoL, and novel patient-reported symptom items for use in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and SLE with lupus nephritis (LN)

OBJECTIVE

SLE and lupus nephritis (LN) have significant impacts on the health-related quality of life of patients living with the condition, which are important to capture from the patient's perspective using patient-reported outcomes (PROs). The objectives of this study were to evaluate the content validity of PROs commonly used in SLE and LN (36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy-Fatigue (FACIT-F) and Lupus Quality of Life (LupusQoL), as well as novel PRO symptom severity items measuring skin rash, joint pain, joint stiffness and swelling of the legs and/or feet, in both populations.

METHODS

Qualitative, semi-structured, cognitive interviews were conducted with 48 participants (SLE=28, LN=20). Understanding and relevance of symptom and impact PRO concepts from existing PROs were assessed, alongside novel PRO symptom severity items with different recall periods (24 hours vs 7 days) and response scales (Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) vs Verbal Rating Scale). Interviews were conducted in multiple rounds to allow for modifications to the novel PRO items. Analysis of verbatim interview transcripts was performed.

RESULTS

Symptom and impact concepts assessed by the SF-36, FACIT-F, and LupusQoL were well understood by both participants with SLE and LN (≥90.0%), with most considered relevant by over half of the participants asked (≥51.9%). All participants asked (100%) understood the novel PRO symptom severity items, and the majority (≥90.0%) considered the symptoms relevant. Minor modifications to the novel PRO items were made between rounds to improve clarity based on participant feedback. The selected 7-day recall period and NRS in the final iteration of the PRO items were understood and relevant. No differences in interview findings between the SLE and LN samples were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings provide evidence of content validity for concepts assessed by the SF-36, FACIT-F, LupusQoL and the novel PRO symptom severity items, supporting use of these PROs to comprehensively assess disease impact in future SLE and LN clinical trials.

A Focus Group Study of Self-Management in Patients With Glomerular Disease

INTRODUCTION

Patients with glomerular disease experience symptoms that impair their physical and mental health while managing their treatments, diet, appointments and monitoring general and specific indicators of health and their illness. We sought to describe the perspectives of patients and their care partners on self-management in glomerular disease.

METHODS

We conducted 16 focus groups involving adult patients with glomerular disease (n = 101) and their care partners (n = 34) in Australia, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and United States. Transcripts were analyzed thematically.

RESULTS

We identified the following 4 themes: empowered in autonomy (gaining confidence through understanding, taking ownership of disease and treatment, learning a positive health approach); overwhelmed by compounding treatment burdens (financially undermined and depleted, demoralized by side effects and harms, frustrated by fragmented and inflexible care, fear of possible drug harms); striving for stability and normalcy (making personal sacrifices, maximizing life participation, attentiveness to bodily signs, avoiding precarious health states, integrating medicines into routines); and necessity of health-sustaining relationships (buoyed by social support, fulfilling meaningful responsibilities, sharing and normalizing experiences, seeking a trusting and respectful alliance).

CONCLUSION

Patients with glomerular disease and their care partners value their capacity for autonomy and disease ownership, stability of their health, and relationships that support self-management. Strategies directed at strengthening these factors may increase self-efficacy and improve the care and outcomes for patients with glomerular disease.

Outcome of low-dose prednisolone use for the induction of remission in lupus nephritis patients

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to compare the efficacy of low-dose prednisolone with conventional high-dose regimen in proliferative lupus nephritis (LN) for remission.

METHODS

This open-label randomized clinical trial was conducted in the Department of Rheumatology, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh. A total of 32 LN patients were randomized into low-dose (experimental) and high-dose (control) groups. All subjects received standard dose of intravenous (I/V) methylprednisolone and pulse I/V cyclophosphamide. Oral prednisolone, 0.5 mg/kg/d and 1 mg/kg/d were given to experimental and control groups respectively for initially 4 weeks then tapered. The patients were followed for 24 weeks. The rates of renal remission (complete and partial) were assessed at 24 weeks. The disease activity, biochemical markers, and quality of life were evaluated at baseline and at 24 weeks.

RESULTS

Complete renal remission was achieved by 66.7% of patients in each group (P = .99). Renal remission (partial/complete) was achieved by 86.7% and 83.3% of patients in the prednisolone low-dose group and high-dose group respectively (P = .99). In between groups, no significant difference was observed in the improvement of active urinary sediments, serum creatinine level, anti-double-stranded DNA level, complements level, disease activity and Short Form-12 score. The prednisolone dose-related adverse events like cushingoid facies, abdominal stria, infections and serious adverse events like death occurred more in the high-dose prednisolone group.

CONCLUSIONS

It has been observed that low-dose prednisolone regimen may be effective in LN. Steroid dose-related side effects and rate of infections were lower in this group.

Development of an international Delphi survey to establish core outcome domains for trials in adults with glomerular disease

Outcomes relevant to treatment decision-making are inconsistently reported in trials involving glomerular disease. Here, we sought to establish a consensus-derived set of critically important outcomes designed to be reported in all future trials by using an online, international two-round Delphi survey in English. To develop this, patients with glomerular disease, caregivers and health professionals aged 18 years and older rated the importance of outcomes using a Likert scale and a Best-Worst scale. The absolute and relative importance was assessed and comments were analyzed thematically. Of 1198 participants who completed Round 1, 734 were patients/caregivers while 464 were health care professionals from 59 countries. Of 700 participants that completed Round 2, 412 were patients/caregivers and 288 were health care professionals. Need for dialysis or transplant, kidney function, death, cardiovascular disease, remission-relapse and life participation were the most important outcomes to patients/caregivers and health professionals. Patients/caregivers rated patient-reported outcomes higher while health care professionals rated hospitalization, death and remission/relapse higher. Four themes explained the reasons for their priorities: confronting death and compounded suffering, focusing on specific targets in glomerular disease, preserving meaning in life, and fostering self-management. Thus, consistent reporting of these critically important outcomes in all trials involving glomerular disease is hoped to improve patient-centered decision-making.

Identifying Outcomes Important to Patients with Glomerular Disease and Their Caregivers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Shared decision making in patients with glomerular disease remains challenging because outcomes important to patients remain largely unknown. We aimed to identify and prioritize outcomes important to patients and caregivers and to describe reasons for their choices.

DESIGN

, setting, participants, & measurementsWe purposively sampled adult patients with glomerular disease and their caregivers from Australia, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Participants identified, discussed, and ranked outcomes in focus groups using the nominal group technique; a relative importance score (between zero and one) was calculated. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically.

RESULTS

Across 16 focus groups, 134 participants (range, 19-85 years old; 51% women), including 101 patients and 33 caregivers, identified 58 outcomes. The ten highest-ranked outcomes were kidney function (importance score of 0.42), mortality (0.29), need for dialysis or transplant (0.22), life participation (0.18), fatigue (0.17), anxiety (0.13), family impact (0.12), infection and immunity (0.12), ability to work (0.11), and BP (0.11). Three themes explained the reasons for these rankings: constraining day-to-day experience, impaired agency and control over health, and threats to future health and family.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with glomerular disease and their caregivers highly prioritize kidney health and survival, but they also prioritize life participation, fatigue, anxiety, and family impact.

Lupus nephritis

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a form of glomerulonephritis that constitutes one of the most severe organ manifestations of the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Most patients with SLE who develop LN do so within 5 years of an SLE diagnosis and, in many cases, LN is the presenting manifestation resulting in the diagnosis of SLE. Understanding of the genetic and pathogenetic basis of LN has improved substantially over the past few decades. Treatment of LN usually involves immunosuppressive therapy, typically with mycophenolate mofetil or cyclophosphamide and with glucocorticoids, although these treatments are not uniformly effective. Despite increased knowledge of disease pathogenesis and improved treatment options, LN remains a substantial cause of morbidity and death among patients with SLE. Within 10 years of an initial SLE diagnosis, 5-20% of patients with LN develop end-stage kidney disease, and the multiple comorbidities associated with immunosuppressive treatment, including infections, osteoporosis and cardiovascular and reproductive effects, remain a concern. Clearly, early and accurate diagnosis of LN and prompt initiation of therapy are of vital importance to improve outcomes in patients with SLE.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Symptoms and Signs at Initial Presentations

BACKGROUND

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune multisystem inflammatory condition that causes microvascular inflammation with the production of various auto-antibodies that play a major role in its pathogenesis. SLE can affect both sexes, all ages, and all ethnic groups with widespread geographical and socioeconomic backgrounds. Asia encompasses people of many sociocultural backgrounds with diverse ethnic.

OBJECTIVE

Due to a lack of national epidemiological research, the incidence and prevalence of SLE in Middle Eastern and Arab countries, have only recently been studied. This article aims to explore the status of SLE in Oman and to record symptoms and signs of SLE at first presentation.

METHODOLOGY

Medical records of all patients diagnosed with SLE at the Royal Hospital from 2006 to 2014 were reviewed for information recorded at first visit. SLE diagnosis was based on the American College of Rheumatology classification criteria; ACR97 (which includes the clinical manifestation and laboratory evidence). Patients with SLE disease manifestations extrapolated and analyzed. There were 966 patients diagnosed with SLE during the period from 2006 to 2014. Mean (SD) age at presentations was 35.5 (11.5) years. Majority of patients were female which constitutes 88.7% of the total SLE patients with mean age 27.6 (1.4) years.

RESULTS

Constitutional symptoms were found in 48.68 of SLE population including fatigue in 35.22%, and weight changes in 13.43%. The cutaneous manifestations that were present included malar rash 37.69%, photosensitivity 35.10%, discoid lupus 17.63%, and hair loss 39.29%. Musculoskeletal manifestations were commonly seen among the studied population including arthralgia in 68.75%, myalgia in 55.65%, arthritis in 48.31%, whilst myositis, tendon abnormalities and avascular necrosis were found in only 2.47%, 0.31% and 1.98%. respectively.

CONCLUSION

This is the first study of the symptoms and signs at initial clinical presentation of SLE patients compared to other studies done regionally where most have focused on clinical manifestations during the progression course of SLE. SLE manifestations may be related to the differences in the genetic make-up of the patients who come from various ethnic groups despite similar geography or sociocultural background, or to referral bias, as some studies were performed in the nephrology units and others in the rheumatology units. There is a pressing need to establish a nationwide and regional collaboration to establish LUPUS and to put forward a strategic planning with each MOH to provide an easy and efficient report of SLE cases and provide various effective management for such a debilitating syndrome.

Measuring and monitoring health-related quality of life responsiveness in systemic lupus erythematosus patients: current perspectives

Objective

Little is known about health-related quality of life (HRQoL) responsiveness in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, compared to other chronic diseases. This review summarizes the available data in HRQoL responsiveness and sensitivity to change in SLE, and recommends directions for research and clinical application.

Methods

A review of the literature was conducted reporting on HRQoL responsiveness in adult SLE patients between 1984 and 2018. HRQoL studies were assessed for responsiveness, sensitivity of change, minimal important differences, minimal clinical important differences, or change in improvement or deterioration.

Results

Responsiveness or sensitivity to change in health-related status was observed in Medical Outcome Survey Short Form-36, SLE Symptom Checklist, EuroQoL, and Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 6D. SLE-specific quality of life questionnaire demonstrated greater responsiveness than the individual domains of SF-36. Lupus quality of life showed large responsiveness when there was improvement. LupusPRO and its derivative Lupus Impact Tracker were found to be responsive to change in disease activity, reflecting both improvement and worsening. Lupus Impact Tracker and physical health and pain domains of Lupus quality of life were responsive to SLE composite responder index.

Conclusion

This review highlights the need for further studies that capture responsiveness and change in HRQoL that are clinically meaningful and sustained. Most importantly, the choice of one measure over another is influenced by the purpose of the HRQoL measure, the particular HRQoL domain, and the SLE disease state that are relevant to the research question.

Immunosuppressive treatment for proliferative lupus nephritis

BACKGROUND

Cyclophosphamide, in combination with corticosteroids, has been first-line treatment for inducing disease remission for proliferative lupus nephritis, reducing death at five years from over 50% in the 1950s and 1960s to less than 10% in recent years. Several treatment strategies designed to improve remission rates and minimise toxicity have become available. Treatments, including mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and calcineurin inhibitors, alone and in combination, may have equivalent or improved rates of remission, lower toxicity (less alopecia and ovarian failure) and uncertain effects on death, end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and infection. This is an update of a Cochrane review first published in 2004 and updated in 2012.

OBJECTIVES

Our objective was to assess the evidence and evaluate the benefits and harms of different immunosuppressive treatments in people with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis. The following questions relating to management of proliferative lupus nephritis were addressed: 1) Are new immunosuppressive agents superior to or as effective as cyclophosphamide plus corticosteroids? 2) Which agents, dosages, routes of administration and duration of therapy should be used? 3) Which toxicities occur with the different treatment regimens?

SEARCH METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Kidney and Transplant Specialised Register up to 2 March 2018 with support from the Cochrane Information Specialist using search terms relevant to this review. Studies in the Specialised Register are identified through searches of CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and EMBASE, conference proceedings, the International Clinical Trials Register (ICTRP) Search Portal and ClinicalTrials.gov.

SELECTION CRITERIA

Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs comparing any immunosuppressive treatment for biopsy-proven class III, IV, V+III and V+VI lupus nephritis in adult or paediatric patients were included.

DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS

Data were abstracted and the risks of bias were assessed independently by two authors. Dichotomous outcomes were calculated as risk ratio (RR) and measures on continuous scales calculated as mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). The primary outcomes were death (all causes) and complete disease remission for induction therapy and disease relapse for maintenance therapy. Evidence certainty was determined using GRADE.

MAIN RESULTS

In this review update, 26 new studies were identified, to include 74 studies involving 5175 participants overall. Twenty-nine studies included children under the age of 18 years with lupus nephritis, however only two studies exclusively examined the treatment of lupus nephritis in patients less than 18 years of age.Induction therapy Sixty-seven studies (4791 participants; median 12 months duration (range 2.5 to 48 months)) reported induction therapy. The effects of all treatment strategies on death (all causes) and ESKD were uncertain (very low certainty evidence) as this outcome occurred very infrequently. Compared with intravenous (IV) cyclophosphamide, MMF may have increased complete disease remission (RR 1.17, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.42; low certainty evidence), although the range of effects includes the possibility of little or no difference.Compared to IV cyclophosphamide, MMF is probably associated with decreased alopecia (RR 0.29, 95% CI 0.19 to 0.46; 170 less (129 less to 194 less) per 1000 people) (moderate certainty evidence), increased diarrhoea (RR 2.42, 95% CI 1.64 to 3.58; 142 more (64 more to 257 more) per 1000 people) (moderate certainty evidence) and may have made little or no difference to major infection (RR 1.02, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.54; 2 less (38 less to 62 more) per 1000 people) (low certainty evidence). It is uncertain if MMF decreased ovarian failure compared to IV cyclophosphamide because the certainty of the evidence was very low (RR 0.36, 95% CI 0.06 to 2.18; 26 less (39 less to 49 more) per 1000 people). Studies were not generally designed to measure ESKD.MMF combined with tacrolimus may have increased complete disease remission (RR 2.38, 95% CI 1.07 to 5.30; 336 more (17 to 1048 more) per 1000 people (low certainty evidence) compared with IV cyclophosphamide, however the effects on alopecia, diarrhoea, ovarian failure, and major infection remain uncertain. Compared to standard of care, the effects of biologics on most outcomes were uncertain because of low to very low certainty of evidence.Maintenance therapyNine studies (767 participants; median 30 months duration (range 6 to 63 months)) reported maintenance therapy. In maintenance therapy, disease relapse is probably increased with azathioprine compared with MMF (RR 1.75, 95% CI 1.20 to 2.55; 114 more (30 to 236 more) per 1000 people (moderate certainty evidence). Multiple other interventions were compared as maintenance therapy, but patient-outcome data were sparse leading to imprecise estimates.

AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS

In this review update, studies assessing treatment for proliferative lupus nephritis were not designed to assess death (all causes) or ESKD. MMF may lead to increased complete disease remission compared with IV cyclophosphamide, with an acceptable adverse event profile, although evidence certainty was low and included the possibility of no difference. Calcineurin combined with lower dose MMF may improve induction of disease remission compared with IV cyclophosphamide, but the comparative safety profile of these therapies is uncertain. Azathioprine may increase disease relapse as maintenance therapy compared with MMF.

Disease-specific quality of life in patients with lupus nephritis

Background

Patient-reported outcomes in lupus nephritis (LN) are not well studied. Studies with disease-targeted PRO tool in LN do not exist. Herein, we describe quality of life (QOL: HRQOL & non-HRQOL) among LN patients using LupusPRO.

Methods

International, cross-sectional data from 1259 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and LupusPRO were compared, stratified by (a) presence of LN (ACR classification criteria (ACR-LN)) at any time and, (b) active LN (on SLEDAI) at study visit. Damage was assessed by SLICC/ACR-SDI. Multivariate regression analyses for QOL against ACR-LN (active LN) after adjusting for age, gender, ethnicity and country of recruitment were performed.

Results

Mean (SD) age was 41.7 (13.5) yrs, 93% were women. Five hundred and thirty-nine of 1259 SLE patients had ACR-LN. ACR-LN group was younger, were more often on immunosuppressive medications, had worse QOL on lupus medications and procreation than non-ACR-LN patients. HRQOL and non-HRQOL scores were similar in both groups. One hundred and twenty-nine of 539 ACR-LN patients had active LN. Active LN group was younger, had greater disease activity and had worse HRQOL and non-HRQOL compared to patients without active LN. Specific domains adversely affected were lupus symptoms, lupus medications, procreation, emotional health, body image and desires-goals domains. Patients with ACR-LN and active LN fared significantly worse in lupus medications and procreation HRQOL domains, even after adjusting for age, ethnicity, gender and country of recruitment.

Conclusions

Lupus nephritis patients have poor QOL. Patients with active LN have worse HRQOL and non-HRQOL. Most domains affected are not included in the generic QOL tools used in SLE. LN patients must receive discussion on lupus medications and procreation issues. Patients with active LN need comprehensive assessments and addressal of QOL, along with treatment for active LN.

The frequency and outcome of lupus nephritis: results from an international inception cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To determine nephritis outcomes in a prospective multi-ethnic/racial SLE inception cohort.

METHODS

Patients in the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics inception cohort (≤15 months of SLE diagnosis) were assessed annually for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), proteinuria and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Health-related quality of life was measured by the Short Form (36 questions) health survey questionnaire (SF-36) subscales, mental and physical component summary scores.

RESULTS

There were 1827 patients, 89% females, mean (s.d.) age 35.1 (13.3) years. The mean (s.d.) SLE duration at enrolment was 0.5 (0.3) years and follow-up 4.6 (3.4) years. LN occurred in 700 (38.3%) patients: 566/700 (80.9%) at enrolment and 134/700 (19.1%) during follow-up. Patients with nephritis were younger, more frequently men and of African, Asian and Hispanic race/ethnicity. The estimated overall 10-year incidence of ESRD was 4.3% (95% CI: 2.8%, 5.8%), and with nephritis was 10.1% (95% CI: 6.6%, 13.6%). Patients with nephritis had a higher risk of death (HR = 2.98, 95% CI: 1.48, 5.99; P = 0.002) and those with eGFR <30 ml/min at diagnosis had lower SF-36 physical component summary scores (P < 0.01) and lower Physical function, Physical role and Bodily pain scores. Over time, patients with abnormal eGFR and proteinuria had lower SF-36 mental component summary (P ≤ 0.02) scores compared to patients with normal values.

CONCLUSION

LN occurred in 38.3% of SLE patients, frequently as the initial presentation, in a large multi-ethnic inception cohort. Despite current standard of care, nephritis was associated with ESRD and death, and renal insufficiency was linked to lower health-related quality of life. Further advances are required for the optimal treatment of LN.

Validity of LupusQoL-China for the assessment of health related quality of life in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

Objectives

To adapt and assess the validity and reliability of LupusQoL for use in Chinese patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods

Debriefing interviews of subjects with SLE guided the language modifications of the tool. The process of adaptation proceeded according to the guideline and pre-testing results of LupusQoL-China. 220 SLE patients completed LupusQoL-China and a generic preference-based measurement of health EuroQoL scale (EQ-5D), and 20 patients repeated them after 2 weeks. Internal consistency (ICR) and test-retest (TRT) reliability, convergent and discriminant validity were examined. Factor analysis and Rasch analysis were performed.

Results

The mean (SD) age of the 208 subjects with SLE was 33.93 (±9.19) years. ICR and TRT of the eight domains ranged from 0.811 to 0.965 and 0.836 to 0.974, respectively. The LupusQoL-China domains demonstrated substantial evidence of construct validity when compared with equivalent domains on the EQ-5D (physical health and usual activities r = −0.63, pain and pain/discomfort r = −0.778, emotional health and anxiety/depression r = −0.761, planning and usual activities r = −0.560). Most LupusQoL-China domains could discriminate patients with varied disease activities and end-organ damage (according to SELENA-SLEDAI and SLICC-DI). The principal component analysis revealed six factors, and confirmatory factor analysis result of which is similar to eight factors model.

Conclusions

These results provide evidence that the LupusQoL-China is valid as a disease-specific HRQoL assessment tool for Chinese patients with SLE.

The impact of illness perceptions on sexual functioning in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus

OBJECTIVE

Sexual problems are common in patients with chronic illnesses. However, few studies have investigated problems with sexual functioning in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The present cross-sectional study assessed the influence of SLE on sexual functioning and its associations with illness perceptions and medical and socio-demographic characteristics.

METHOD

The study included 106 SLE patients who used at least one immunosuppressive agent to control their SLE. Sexual functioning was measured using the Physical Disability Sexual and Body Esteem and the Medical Impact Scale from the Sexual Functioning Questionnaire. Patients' illness perceptions were assessed using the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire.

RESULTS

49.1% of patients agreed that their SLE had a negative influence on their sexual functioning. In addition, treatment for SLE seemed to play an important role in the negative impact on sexual functioning. Patients' illness perceptions were more important predictors of sexual functioning than medical and socio-demographic characteristics. SLE patients appear to report a lower sexual functioning than patients with other chronic illnesses.

CONCLUSION

SLE in general and immunosuppressive treatment for SLE specifically have a negative influence on sexual functioning. Patients' illness perceptions appear to play a more important role in the negative impact on sexual functioning than medical characteristics such as disease activity. The high prevalence of sexual problems highlights the need to more frequently address and aim to improve sexual functioning in patients with SLE. Patients may benefit from methods such as illness perception modification and coping style interventions to reduce their sexual problems.

Inflammatory fatigue and sickness behaviour - lessons for the diagnosis and management of chronic fatigue syndrome

Persistent and severe fatigue is a common part of the presentation of a diverse range of disease processes. There is a growing body of evidence indicating a common inflammatory pathophysiology underlying many conditions where fatigue is a primary patient concern, including chronic fatigue syndrome. This review explores current models of how inflammatory mediators act on the central nervous system to produce fatigue and sickness behaviour, and the commonality of these processes in conditions as diverse as surgical trauma, infection, various cancers, inflammatory bowel disease, connective tissue diseases and autoimmune diseases. We also discuss evidence indicating chronic fatigue syndrome may have important pathophysiological similarities with cytokine mediated sickness behaviour, and what lessons can be applied from sickness behaviour to chronic fatigue syndrome with regards to the diagnosis and management.

Lupus nephritis: a critical review

Lupus nephritis remains one of the most severe manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus associated with considerable morbidity and mortality. A better understanding of the pathogenesis of lupus nephritis is an important step in identifying more targeted and less toxic therapeutic approaches. Substantial research has helped define the pathogenetic mechanisms of renal manifestations and, in particular, the complex role of type I interferons is increasingly recognized; new insights have been gained into the contribution of immune complexes containing endogenous RNA and DNA in triggering the production of type I interferons by dendritic cells via activation of endosomal toll-like receptors. At the same time, there have been considerable advances in the treatment of lupus nephritis. Corticosteroids have long been the cornerstone of therapy, and the addition of cyclophosphamide has contributed to renal function preservation in patients with severe proliferative glomerulonephritis, though at the cost of serious adverse events. More recently, in an effort to minimize drug toxicity and achieve equal effectiveness, other immunosuppressive agents, including mycophenolate mofetil, have been introduced. Herein, we provide a detailed review of the trials that established the equivalency of these agents in the induction and/or maintenance therapy of lupus nephritis, culminating in the recent publication of new treatment guidelines by the American College of Rheumatology. Although newer biologics have been approved and continue to be a focus of research, they have, for the most part, been relatively disappointing compared to the effectiveness of biologics in other autoimmune diseases. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential for renal preservation.

Health related quality of life in Mexican women with systemic lupus erythematosus: a descriptive study using SF-36 and LupusQoL©

The LupusQoL© questionnaire is a disease-specific health related quality of life (HRQOL) instrument for adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The Short Form-36 (SF-36) is a generic instrument that captures the physical, psychological, and social impact. We conducted a descriptive study of women aged ≥ 18 years attending our Lupus Clinic. HRQOL was assessed by applying the LupusQoL© and SF-36. Lupus activity was measured using the Mexican Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (Mex-SLEDAI) and chronic damage using the Systemic Lupus Collaborative Clinics Damage Index (SDI). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square test and Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient. A total of 127 patients were included with a mean age of 40.5 ± 12.6 years. The mean disease duration was 8.2 ± 5.6 years, the mean disease activity score was 2.4 ± 3.0, and the mean SDI score 0.77 ± 1.06. The mean SF-36 score was 58.1 ± 21.1 and the mean LupusQoL© score was 69 ± 22.7. The correlation between global scores of the SF-36 and LupusQoL© was rho = 0.73 ( p < 0.001). The correlation between lupus disease activity and the SF-36 and the LupusQoL© was −0.26 ( p = 0.003) and −0.25 ( p = 0.004), respectively. The correlation between the SDI and the SF-36 and the LupusQoL© was −0.28 ( p = 0.001) and −0.38 ( p < 0.0001), respectively. In conclusions: both LupusQoL© and SF-36 were useful instruments in assessing HRQOL in Mexican lupus female patients. The usefulness of the LupusQoL© should be evaluated in lupus patients with moderate to severe disease activity.