Background and Objectives: Belimumab (BEL) is a monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) but not for lupus nephritis (LN) and neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE). We aimed to assess BEL's effects on these severe, potentially life-threatening manifestations. Methods: Retrospective observational cohort study using routine clinical data in a case series of patients with SLE receiving BEL. Results: Sixteen patients received BEL therapy for active SLE. Nine were excluded because they had no LN or NPSLE. Six suffered from LN, and one patient had NPSLE. All LN patients received BEL in addition to standard therapy including glucocorticoids, hydroxychloroquine, and mycophenolate mofetil in five cases, and tacrolimus in one case. Three patients with proteinuria >1,000 mg/g creatinine responded well (one complete, two partial renal responses); all other patients had decreasing proteinuria and a reduction in anti-dsDNA levels. The patient with NPSLE who had failed previous therapies had persistent clinical improvement of cutaneous and neuropsychiatric manifestations. There was one mild allergic reaction and one lower respiratory tract infection, but no other adverse events. One patient discontinued therapy due to a lack of improvement in clinical symptoms, another because of clinical remission. Conclusions: In our series, BEL led to a decrease of proteinuria in patients with proteinuria of more than 1,000 mg/g creatinine despite standard of care treatment, and led to a marked clinical improvement in one patient with NPSLE. No adverse events were observed. Routinely administered BEL shows clinical efficacy on non-approved manifestations, but careful patient selection is warranted.
Background:Lupus nephritis (LN) occurs in about 30-60% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). LN is associated with increased mortality. Currently, the diagnosis relies on histopathologic characteristics according to the ISN/RPS classification (1). This classification relies heavily on glomerular changes and may not accurately reflect all changes occurring in LN. For the description of transplanted kidney, the BANFF classification has been established which, in addition to glomerular changes, also incorporates tubular pathologies (2).Objectives:With the present study, we aim to describe histopathologic changes according to the BANFF classification in a single-center cohort of LN patients.Methods:We retrospectively recorded epidemiological, clinical and laboratory data of 58 patients with LN over a ten-year period. Histopathologic diagnoses according to ISN/RPS classification or the former WHO classification were also documented. We then re-analyzed representative kidney samples according to the BANFF classification and performed Spearman rank correlation for BANFF findings and creatinine at biopsy and 12 months as well as proteinuria at biopsy and at 12 months.Results:We analyzed 58 patients with LN. 9 were male, 49 were female. Median age was 38 (15-78) years. According to ISN/RPS, 3 had class I LN, 6 had class II, 14 had class III, 16 had class IV, 6 had class V, and 0 had class VI. Median eGFR at biopsy was 60 ml/min/1.73m2 (13-137). According to the BANFF classification, tubulointerstitial inflammation (ti) was associated with creatinine at 12 months. Proteinuria at 12 months was associated with interstitial fibrosis (ci) (Figure 1).Conclusion:In LN, the current ISN/RPS classification puts emphasis on glomerular changes. Nevertheless, for the long-term outcome, tubulointerstitial changes (tubulointerstitial inflammation and interstitial fibrosis) may at least be as important as glomerular changes. These findings have to be corroborated in larger cohorts with prespecified renal endpoints.References:[1]Weening et al. The classification of glomerulonephritis in systemic lupus erythematosus revisited. JASN 2004.[2]Jeong HY. Diagnosis of renal transplant rejection: Banff classification and beyond. Kidney Res Clin Pract 2020.Disclosure of Interests:Marlene Plüß: None declared, Samy Hakroush: None declared, Noah Niebusch: None declared, Björn Tampe: None declared, PETER KORSTEN Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, Chugai, Sanofi, Boehringer-Ingelheim, GSK, Novartis, Consultant of: Abbvie, Pfizer, Chugai, Sanofi, Boehringer-Ingelheim, GSK, Novartis, Lilly, Gilead, Grant/research support from: GSK
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