Recent advances in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus [version 1; referees: 2 approved]
Savino Sciascia,
Massimo Radin,
Dario Roccatello,
Giovanni Sanna,
Maria Laura Bertolaccini
Affiliations
Savino Sciascia
Center of Research of Immunopathology and Rare Diseases, Coordinating Center of Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta Network for Rare Diseases, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, and SCDU Nephrology and Dialysis, S. Giovanni Bosco Hospital, Turin, Italy
Massimo Radin
Center of Research of Immunopathology and Rare Diseases, Coordinating Center of Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta Network for Rare Diseases, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, and SCDU Nephrology and Dialysis, S. Giovanni Bosco Hospital, Turin, Italy
Dario Roccatello
Center of Research of Immunopathology and Rare Diseases, Coordinating Center of Piemonte and Valle d’Aosta Network for Rare Diseases, Department of Clinical and Biological Sciences, and SCDU Nephrology and Dialysis, S. Giovanni Bosco Hospital, Turin, Italy
Giovanni Sanna
Louise Coote Lupus Unit, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
Maria Laura Bertolaccini
Academic Department of Vascular Surgery, School of Cardiovascular Medicine & Sciences, King’s College London, London, UK
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease presenting highly heterogeneous clinical manifestations and multi-systemic involvement. Patients are susceptible to relapse and remission, thus making management challenging. Moreover, a considerable number of side effects may occur with conventional therapies; therefore, there is clearly a need for new therapeutic strategies. Since the pathogenesis of SLE is highly complex, it is far from being fully understood. However, greater understanding of the pathways and of the cellular and molecular mediators involved in SLE is being achieved. Emerging evidence has allowed the development of new biological therapeutic options targeting crucial molecular mediators involved in the pathogenesis of SLE. This literature review analyzes the availability of biological and target-directed treatments, phase II and III trials, and new therapies that are being developed for the treatment of SLE.
