Active clinical trials for "Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic"

The purpose of this study is to determine whether Duloxetine (cymbalta) can reduce pain severity in patient with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

The objective of this study is to evaluate and compare efficacy of 3 dose levels of PF-04236921 to placebo in subjects with generalized lupus using a measure called the Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) Responder Index. The study will evaluate secondary and exploratory measures as well.

This study will test the safety and effectiveness of combination therapy with cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan) and fludarabine in treating lupus nephritis (kidney inflammation). This condition, common in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, is caused by abnormal action of immune cells called lymphocytes against the kidneys. Left untreated, severe cases can result in loss of kidney function. The current treatment of choice-intermittent high doses (pulses) of cyclophosphamide-does not work in all patients and causes infertility in many women. The rate of infertility in men is not known. This study will examine whether fludarabine can safely be given with significantly lower doses of cyclophosphamide, and if this combination controls kidney inflammation. Patients 18 years of age and older with severe lupus nephritis (called proliferative lupus nephritis) may be eligible for this study. Candidates will have a history and physical examination; blood and urine tests; chest X-ray; electrocardiogram; cancer screening that may include a Pap smear, mammogram, rectal examination, PSA testing, and sigmoidoscopy. Participants will be divided into one of the following treatment groups: Group 1-Patients undergo three treatment cycles of cyclophosphamide, taken by mouth, and fludarabine, injected subcutaneously (under the skin). Patients receive both drugs on day 1 of the cycle, and fludarabine alone on days 2 and 3. This regimen is repeated once every 5 weeks for three cycles. Group 2-Same as for Group 1, except fludarabine injections are given intravenously (through a vein) for the second treatment cycle. Patients in this group have frequent blood sampling during the first and second treatment cycles to monitor blood levels of the drug. Samples are collected before the first injection is given and at 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 4, 8, 24 and 48 hours after the third injection. A total 12 tablespoons of blood is drawn over a 2-month period. All patients will have blood drawn once or twice a week during the first two cycles and then less frequently to monitor blood counts. Some patients will have the following additional procedures to test the effects of treatment on lymphocytes: Blood sample collection Bone marrow aspiration-The skin over the hip bone is cleaned and a local anesthetic is injected into the outer covering of the bone. Bone marrow is suctioned through the needle into an attached syringe. The procedure is done before treatment begins, at the end of treatment, and 6 months after treatment. Tonsillar biopsy-The tonsils are numbed with a local anesthetic and 1 to 4 pieces of tissue are removed using special forceps. The procedure is done before treatment begins, at the end of treatment, and 6 months after treatment. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the abdomen-The patients lies on a table in a narrow cylinder (the MRI scanner) containing a strong magnetic field, which is used to create images of parts of the body in small section views. Patients will be followed for at least 24 months to monitor late side effects and the response to treatment.

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a condition that affects the whole body. It can cause inflammation of the blood vessels resulting in an earlier thickening and hardening of the arteries resulting in strokes. It has been reported that SLE can worsen the function resulting in heart failure. The aim of the study is to examine what effects Rosuvastatin, a cholesterol lowering drug, given to patients has on the degree of thickening of the arteries over the course of two years. We also want to see how it affects the function of the blood vessels and also of the heart. Individuals who agree to participate will be randomly assigned into two groups. One group will be given the active drug whereas the other will have a placebo. Subjects in the study will all have a cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) scan before treatment, at 1 year and then 2 years at the end of the treatment. Each scan will involve imaging the carotid arteries in the neck, the arteries in the arm and also the heart. Individuals will continue to have regular out-patient reviews by their own team of doctors, regular blood tests will be taken to monitor the disease and also to ensure the safety and well being of the individual. At the end of the 2 year study we hope that we will be able to slow down the rate of arterial thickening and retard any plaque build up in the arteries. We also want to see what effect rosuvastatin has on heart function. Ultimately, we hope to prove that people with SLE should be treated with a cholesterol lowering drug as part of their routine treatment.

Intravenous cyclophosphamide is considered to be the standard of care for treatment of proliferative lupus nephritis. However, its use is limited by potentially severe toxic effects. Cyclosporine A has been suggested to be an efficient and safe treatment alternative to cyclophosphamide. In a randomized, multicenter, open-label, controlled trial the investigators sought to compare the efficacy of oral cyclosporine A with intravenous pulse cyclophosphamide to induce durable remission in patients with lupus nephritis III-IV.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease of unknown origin. It involves multiple organs including the joints, skin, kidneys and central nervous system. The disease process is caused by a dysfunction of the immune system. The drugs currently used for the treatment of SLE are only partially effective and carry significant risks for side-effects. Patients that were resistant or intolerant to conventional medication have been effectively treated with Rapamycin and were able to decrease the amount of prednisone they needed. The purpose of this study is to prospectively determine the therapeutic efficacy and mechanism of action of Rapamune in patients with SLE. Healthy subjects not receiving Rapamune will be asked to donate blood to serve as controls. As part of the research effort to understand the reason for the variations in the effects of treatment drugs by different individuals, a sub-study of the DNA makeup of subjects enrolled in the trial will also be done. The purpose of the sub-study is to possibly determine whether different responses to the drugs used to treat SLE have a correlation with the differences in the genetic makeup of the subjects.

This is a long-term continuation study to provide continuing treatment to subjects with SLE.

This study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of atacicept compared to placebo in preventing new flares in subjects with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to confirm the optimal dose of atacicept for treatment of subjects with SLE and gain information on the effect of atacicept on markers specific to its mechanism of action (MoA) and their correlation to disease activity/progression. Study medication will be administered through subcutaneous (under the skin) injections, beginning with twice weekly injections for the first 4 weeks, followed by once weekly doses for 48 weeks. Following the last treatment, a safety follow-up period of 24 weeks will be conducted.

The primary objective of the study is to assess the safety of epratuzumab in patients with SLE.

A pilot study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of leflunomide in SLE patients with active disease who are refractory to cyclophosphamide