Yoga Intervention for Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus- A Research Protocol

Abstract

Introduction: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is one of the most common systemic autoimmune diseases with a wide range of clinical manifestations. SLE patients experience periods of exacerbation or flare and quiescent disease activity. An increase in the frequency of exacerbations or flares causes permanent organ damage, increased morbidity, and early mortality, which are mainly due to the increased activity of immune-mediated inflammatory reactions. Yoga interventions have an immune-modulatory potential that regulates the psycho-neuro-immune axis, moderates disease activity, and improves the Quality Of Life (QOL) for patients. Aim: To report the methodology for the six months specified yoga interventions to reduce the inflammatory markers and enhance health-related QOL among SLE patients. Materials and Methods: A randomised controlled trial will be conducted with a sample size of 128 SLE participants. Newly diagnosed and treatment-resistant SLE participants, patients more than 18 years of age, will be recruited. Participants will be divided into three groups: newly diagnosed, treatment-resistant SLE, and control; patients diagnosed with SLE within six months, unresponsive to “standard therapy” will be placed in the respective groups. Participants in the newly diagnosed and treatment-resistant groups will be given yoga sessions, and the effects will be compared with controls. Results: A baseline and postintervention (after six months) assessment will be performed for all the patients. Primary outcomes like anti-double stranded Deoxyribonucleic Acid (anti-dsDNA), complements-C3, C4, and inflammatory markers like Interleukin 6 (IL-6), 10, 17, Interferon-gamma, and plasma micro-RNA will be measured and quantified. The secondary outcome will include measurement of health-related QOL using the Lupus-QoL questionnaire. Conclusion: Yoga integration, along with conventional treatment for SLE, as adjunctive therapy might enhance physical functioning and improve psychological health.

Keywords

• autoimmune diseases
• inflammatory markers
• plasma micro-ribonucleic acid
• quality of life