Active clinical trials for "Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic"

Cutaneous Lupus erythematosus (CLE) is a chronic autoimmune connective tissue disease with a prevalence of 14.6 - 73.2/100,000, predominantly in women in mid adulthood. Cutaneous lesions occur in about 75-80% of patients with systemic lupus erythematodes.These lesions unfortunately and invariably lead to significant scarring and postinflammatory hypo- and hyperpigmentation. Several studies have reported that laser treatments in patients with CLE have a positive effect and safety. However, only few case reports exist about the effect of ablative lasers such as Carbon Dioxide (CO2) and Erbium-doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnet (Er:YAG) lasers in CLE scarring. Although no study shows a flare-up of CLE after laser treatment of the scars, many physicians are afraid of treating these often stigmatizing scars. Considering the huge psychological impact of facial scaring on quality of life, it is essential to explore and assess the value of already well-established treatment options for the management of scars also in patients with cutaneous lupus erythematodes. Hereby the study seeks the subjective and objective improvement of the CLE-scars after treatment with fractional Er:YAG laser compared to control (untreated) areas.

Determine the effect of vitamin D repletion on flow mediated dilation (FMD, a measure of endothelial function) in vitamin D deficient systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients. The investigators will enroll vitamin D deficient SLE patients and randomize them to receive either 400 IU or 5,000 IU of cholecalciferol (D3) daily and measure change in FMD as a measure of EC function at baseline and after 16 weeks of repletion. Determine mechanisms by which vitamin D repletion may improve endothelial function in vitamin D deficient SLE patients and in vitro. Determine effect of oral D3 repletion on the Type I interferon signature in WISH and ECs cultured with pre and post plasma from D3 treated lupus patients. Determine effect of D3 repletion on the number of circulating apoptotic and non-apoptotic EC and EPC ex vivo. Determine effect of exogenous 1,25(OH)D on IFN gene signature in WISH and ECs stimulated by pretreatment SLE plasma in vitro. Determine the effects of exogenous 1,25(OH)D on the phenotype of ECs cultured with pretreatment lupus plasma. This study is designed to efficiently test our hypothesis and begin to define interferon-dependent pathways through which vitamin D repletion can restore clinical and in vitro endothelial function.

Individuals with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE, lupus) appear to be at increased risk for the development of shingles, a painful reactivation of the varicella zoster virus that causes chicken pox. The investigators propose to study the immune response to commercially available Zostavax vaccine (shingles vaccine) in adult patients with SLE who have minimal disease activity and are on mild immunosuppressant medications, and to compare the immune response to that seen in healthy people following vaccination. Acceptable immunosuppressive drugs permitted in the study are those felt to be safe according to Centers for Disease Control guidelines. Ten healthy people and 10 SLE patients (all over 50 years of age) will be recruited to receive a single, standard dose of Zostavax. Blood samples and physical examination will be performed prior to injection, then 2,6,and 12 weeks following vaccination. All participants will receive active vaccine, there is no placebo group.

The purpose of this trial is to study the effect of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination on the elevation of antibody titer to 4 serotypes of HPV in patients with systemic lupus erythematous and compare the antibody response with an equal number of age-matched healthy women.

Glomerulonephritis and renal failure represent one of the most life-threatening manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Although immunosuppressive therapy is often effective for the treatment of acute lupus nephritis, a significant proportion of patients show persistent proteinuria after resolution of the acute nephritic process, and develop progressive renal failure. There is preliminary evidence that calcitriol and other vitamin D analogs can reduce proteinuria in patients with chronic kidney diseases. The investigators plan to conduct a randomized control study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of calcitriol in the treatment of SLE patients with persistent proteinuria. Sixty patients with clinically quiescent SLE and persistent proteinuria despite conventional therapy will be recruited. They will be treated with calcitriol for 48 weeks. Proteinuria, renal function, lupus disease activity, serum and urinary inflammatory markers will be monitored. This study will explore the potential anti-proteinuric and immunomodulating effects of calcitriol in the treatment of SLE, which is a common and life threatening disease in young adults.

Systemic lupus erythematosus, also known as lupus or SLE, is a chronic, multisystem, autoimmune disease in which the body's internal system of defense attacks its own normal tissues. This abnormal autoimmune response can result in damage to many parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, lungs, heart, brain, intestines, and kidneys. Both genetic and environmental risk factors are involved in the development of lupus, but these are poorly understood. SLE has an overall 10-year survival between 80 and 90%. However, we estimate that severe lupus not responding to the usual available treatments has a 50% mortality rate in 10 years. Kidney problems occur in 30% to 50% of lupus patients and may progress to kidney failure. Kidney disease due to lupus occurs more frequently in African-Americans and Hispanics. Lupus can affect many parts of the body and cause damage, but the severe form can result in death from kidney disease; cardiovascular disease, specifically atherosclerosis; central nervous system disease; and infections. Currently, no single standard therapy for treatment of severe SLE exists. Usually physicians prescribe an aggressive regimen of one or a combination of immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory treatments. This approach to therapy for all forms of severe SLE derives largely from studies of lupus nephritis. Current treatment, although effective in many people, are not effective in all patients and are associated with drug-induced morbidity. The design of the control arm for this study reflects the current status of treatment of SLE in the academic setting. Investigators may choose from a list of commonly used and currently available immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory treatments to optimize the treatment of their patients, based on their past treatment history and response to those treatments. Study treatments may consist of corticosteroids, cyclophosphamide (CTX), azathioprine, methotrexate, cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), plasmapheresis, intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), rituximab, and leflunomide. Treatment may be changed as frequently and as necessary within the first year of the study to control the manifestations of SLE in each patient. New therapies that become available during the course of this trial may be added to the list of approved medications for this study. In response to the absence of a uniformly effective treatment for severe lupus, autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) has been proposed as a potential therapy. Hematopoietic stem cells are immature blood cells that can develop into all of the different blood and immune cells the body uses. Researchers believe that resetting the immune system may stop or slow down the progression of the disease. The main purpose of this study is to compare two ways of treating SLE: 1) high-dose immunosuppressive therapy (HDIT) followed by HSCT and 2) currently available immunosuppressive/immunomodulatory therapies.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of ramipril on the endothelial function and on the number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of ustekinumab in Chinese participants with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who have not adequately responded to one or more standard-of-care treatments.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the breadth and potency of HIV-1 neutralizing antibody (nAb) responses and examine the safety and tolerability of an HIV gp120 protein vaccine (AIDSVAX® B/E) in HIV-uninfected adults diagnosed with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) who have stable disease.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is chronic and systemic autoimmune disease that mainly affecting women and leading to organ damages especially skin, joints, kidneys, central nervous system and heart. In SLE, immune system dysfunction leads to autoantibodies, autoreactive T cells and pro-inflammatory cytokines production. These elements will initiate and maintain organ damages. Patients with SLE have disease flares followed by period of remission. Flares can occur because of stress, infections, surgery, pregnancy or ultraviolet exposition. Furthermore the chronic nature of SLE is an important factor of depression in these patients. Qi Gong is an ancient Chinese practice based on relaxation movements, posture and breathing in order to harmonize the body and mind. This practice improves the general state by reducing fatigue and improving sleep. The beneficial effect of Qi Gong in medicine has been studied in several diseases including cancer, diabetes, arterial hypertension and fibromyalgia. Qi Gong seems interesting in depressed patients but also to reduce stress in healthy subjects. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of Qi Gong on quality if life in patients with SLE. Patients will have two lessons of 60 minutes per week for three months and a collective lesson of 90 minutes per week for three months. The teacher of Qi-Gong will evaluate adherence to the practice of Qi Gong every week. Clinical and biological data will be collected at baseline and at 2th, 4th, 6th, 9th and 12th month. Different evaluation scores and neurotrophin levels will be collected at baseline and at 6th month.