Journal of Clinical Medicine (May 2023)

Treat-to-Target in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: Reality or Pipe Dream

  • Dina Zucchi,
  • Chiara Cardelli,
  • Elena Elefante,
  • Chiara Tani,
  • Marta Mosca

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm12093348
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 12, no. 9
p. 3348

Abstract

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Treat-to-target is a therapeutic approach based on adjustments to treatment at set intervals in order to achieve well-defined, clinically relevant targets. This approach has been successfully applied to many chronic conditions, and in rheumatology promising results have emerged for rheumatoid arthritis. For systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), defining the most meaningful treatment targets has been challenging, due to disease complexity and heterogeneity. Control of disease activity, the reduction of damage accrual and the patient’s quality of life should be considered as the main targets in SLE, and several new drugs are emerging to achieve these targets. This review is focused on describing the target to achieve in SLE and the methods to do so, and it is also aimed at discussing if treat-to-target could be a promising approach also for this complex disease.

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