Active clinical trials for "Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic"

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) are chronic systemic autoimmune diseases that have been reported to affect the ocular surface of patients [1,2]. However, the nature of the disturbances of the ocular surface immunity and their relationship to systemic disease severity are poorly understood. This study aims to profile the ocular surface inflammation of RA and SLE patients by a., analysing levels of tear cytokine, and b., investigating conjunctival cells, and c. clinical imaging for conjunctival redness and tear stability. 20 consecutive RA patients and 20 consecutive SLE patients will be recruited from the Singapore General Hospital Rheumatology clinic. 20 age matched controls for SLE and another 20 age matched controls for RA will be recruited. All participants will undergo Tear collection with Schirmer strips EyePRIMTM (Opia Technologies) Impression Cytology Device for conjunctival sampling Clinical ocular surface assessment with Oculus Keratograph 5M Collection of blood via venipuncture (optional) Retrieval of Clinical Information of participants The association of cytokines in the tears with various cellular and immune markers, as well as clinical signs of inflammation and tear stability will be investigated. This will be useful for further longitudinal studies of treatment in autoimmmune disease patients.

The purpose of this study is to characterize the clinical and molecular profiles of patients with cutaneous lupus.

This study will test the effects of insulin resistance on atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in women who have systemic lupus erythematosus, more commonly known as lupus. Women with lupus have a higher chance of developing atherosclerosis than the general population, and as a result are more susceptible to heart attack and stroke. Insulin resistance is a particular risk factor for atherosclerosis, and recent small studies have shown that insulin resistance is more common in lupus patients than in those without lupus. The study will consist of a series of tests designed to assess whether there is an association between insulin resistance and atherosclerosis in women with lupus. This research may lead to further studies on possible treatments to reduce the risk of heart disease in lupus patients. Volunteers must be women between 30 and 55 years of age who were diagnosed with lupus within five or more years prior to the study. Volunteers who have kidney failure, diabetes, or existing atherosclerosis will be excluded from the study, as will volunteers who have had pulse steroid therapy within four weeks of the testing or who have been pregnant within one year of the testing. Participants will undergo the following procedures on an outpatient basis: Blood and urine tests for research purposes. Electrocardiogram (EKG) to test the general health of the heart. Oral glucose tolerance test to measure blood glucose and insulin levels. This test is commonly used to diagnose diabetes and pre-diabetic insulin resistance. Cardiac multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) to determine the amount of calcium present in coronary arteries. This test is used to diagnose atherosclerosis. Carotid artery ultrasound to show the speed of blood flow through the carotid arteries. This test will show abnormalities and/or blockages in the carotid arteries. Abdominal ultrasound to determine if the participant has hepatic steatosis ( fatty liver ), which is often found in individuals with insulin resistance and diabetes. Carotid artery magnetic resonance imaging/angiogram (MRI/MRA) to measure the thickness of blood vessels. This test is used to diagnose atherosclerosis. Abdominal MRI to estimate abdominal fat. Volunteers may be asked to participate in an MRI/MRA study to evaluate the arteries of the heart. This test is optional and not required by the insulin resistance/atherosclerosis study. The entire series of procedures will require one to three visits to complete.

The prognosis of rheumatic diseases has improved considerably with development of therapy. However, infections are considered the most important cause of morbidity and mortality in this group of patients. One of the ways to prevent such complications is vaccination. In 2009, a new pandemic strain of influenza virus (A/H1N1/2009) has emerged raising major concerns for public health. Patients under immunosuppressive therapy have indication for immunization against influenza virus H1N1. There are, however, concerns about possibility of reactivation of autoimmune diseases, determine adverse events and insufficient immunogenicity in these patients. The lack of studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of the vaccine against influenza A(H1N1)/2009 in these rheumatic patients led to the development of this research. The objectives of this study are to evaluate the humoral response and safety of the vaccine virus A(H1N1)/2009 in immunosuppressed patients with rheumatic diseases compared to healthy controls. We have recruited 400 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, 350 with spondyloarthritis, 1000 with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), 150 with dermatomyositis (DM), 100 with mixed connective tissue disease, 150 with systemic vasculitis, 250 with systemic sclerosis (SSc) , 100 with Sjögren's syndrome, 100 with antiphospholipid syndrome, 100 patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, 80 with juvenile SLE, and 80 with juvenile DM, followed at our Rheumatology Outpatient Division and Unit Pediatric Rheumatology Children's Institute, HC-FMUSP. The control group was recruited were 200 healthy employees of ICHC-FMUSP. Informed consent was obtained from all participants and the study was approved by the Local Ethical Committee. All subjects were vaccinated against influenza virus A/(H1N1)/2009 (vaccine approved and supplied by Instituto Butantan-São Paulo). Blood samples was collected to measure levels of antibodies inhibiting hemagglutination by influenza virus A (H1N1)/2009 immediately prior to vaccination and 21 to 28 days after vaccination., Participants fulfilled a questionnaire on the immediate side effects of the vaccine. All patients with rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, SLE, DM, systemic vasculitis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, juvenile SLE, and DM were assessed before and 21 days after vaccination for clinical, laboratory parameters of disease activity as well as treatment. Continuous variables will be compared by t-test to evaluate differences between patients with rheumatic diseases versus healthy controls. Differences between categorical variables will be evaluated using the chi-square or Fisher exact test. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05.

To examine the psychometric properties of a brief quality of life (QOL) instrument for use in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The purpose of this prospective study is primarily to determine the validity and reliability of a new health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measure in children with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). We wish to secondarily examine concordance between child- and parent-reports of the HRQOL measure and identify factors associated with poorer HRQOL in them. Earlier studies have shown that SLE significantly impacts QOL in adults. At present, there is no disease-specific instrument for measuring HRQOL in children with SLE. In response to these concerns, we developed the "Simple Measure of Impact of Lupus Erythematosus in Youngsters© (SMILEY©). Establishing the validity and reliability of SMILEY©, examining child-parent agreement and identifying factors associated with poorer HRQOL will enable us to measure the impact of SLE in children, and formulate appropriate interventions for this sensitive population. We plan the following specific aims: to determine construct validity and reliability of SMILEY© child and parent versions in children with SLE using gold standards (Pediatric Quality of Life inventory - PedsQL generic and rheumatology modules, Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire -CHAQ) to determine responsiveness of SMILEY© to examine level of agreement between child- and parent-reports of SMILEY© in children with SLE to identify medical (steroid use, use of disease modifying agents such as cytoxan, cellcept, thalidomide, or cyclosporine, disease duration, disease activity and disease damage etc.) and psychosocial (self-concept, socioeconomic status) factors that affect HRQOL (as measured by child- and parent-reports of SMILEY© and PedsQL generic and rheumatology modules) and physical function 5) to translate, adapt and validate SMILEY in different languages

Women with lupus and other related disorders produce certain antibodies in the blood. Some women have these antibodies even if they have not yet developed symptoms of lupus or Sjogren's syndrome. When these women become pregnant, they may pass the antibodies to their infants. The infants may then develop a disease called neonatal lupus. The symptoms of neonatal lupus include an abnormally slow heart beat (heart block) and a skin rash. This registry collects information on women and infants affected by neonatal lupus as well as other family members who may be healthy.

OBJECTIVES: I. Evaluate an educational program that has been pretested for cultural appropriateness and literacy requirements in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). II. Assess the impact of this educational program on patients with SLE, with an emphasis on recognizing cardinal symptoms, coping with fatigue, regulating medications, and communicating with the physician.

This study will examine whether PET imaging can reveal what is happening in lymph nodes of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, or lupus, during periods of active disease. Patients may have periods of active disease when they may feel sick with fever, fatigue, and aching or swollen joints. Their blood tests are abnormal and their kidney, lungs or heart may be affected. At other times, the disease is inactive, and patients feel well, their blood is normal, and there is no evidence of organ disease. In lupus, like other autoimmune diseases, the body's immune system attacks it own healthy tissues. Activated lymphocytes (a type of immune cell) lead to the production of antibodies and chemical signals that contribute to the disease process. In animals with lupus, these cells are activated in the lymphoid organs, such as the lymph nodes or spleen. It is not known exactly where these cells are activated in humans. Because some lymph nodes are located deep inside the chest and abdomen; surgery is currently the only way to examining them. PET imaging may provide an alternative, non-invasive, means of obtaining information on lymph node activity in humans. This test uses a radioactive sugar molecule called F18-FDG to find areas of increased cellular activity in the body. (Cells use sugar for fuel, so active cells, such as active lymphocytes, uses more FDG than other body tissues.) This study will determine whether PET can detect these areas of increased activity in lupus during active disease. Patients with active or inactive lupus may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a history, physical examination, and routine blood and urine tests. Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding may not participate. Participants will undergo PET scanning. On the day of the scan they have a brief medical history and physical examination and a blood sample is drawn to check blood count and look for markers of lymphocyte activation. Then, a small plastic tube (catheter) is placed into a vein in the patient's arm, the FDG is injected through the catheter, and the patient rests for an hour. For the scan, the patient lies flat in a cradle that is moved into the central hole of the doughnut-shaped PET camera, and pictures are taken over the next 2 hours, with the patient lies quietly, without moving the head or arms. After the scan is finished, the patient empties the bladder approximately every hour for 6 hours to excrete the radioactive sugar.

This study will explore the diverse health beliefs and behaviors among minority patients with rheumatic diseases. These diseases may cause joint pain, stiffness or swelling. Some can involve bones, muscles, tendons or ligaments. Some cause abnormalities of the immune system-the body's defense against disease. Some rheumatic diseases are painful or deforming and some can be life-threatening. Many rheumatic diseases occur more often and more severely in certain minority communities. This study will explore psychosocial and cultural factors related to rheumatic disease in minorities. Patients enrolled in the NIAMS protocol Natural History or Rheumatic Disease in Minority Communities (protocol #01-AR-0227) may participate in this study. Participants will be evaluated at the NIAMS Community Health Center at the Upper Cardozo Health Center in Washington, D.C. Participants will be interviewed about individual and community health behavior, and health beliefs about rheumatic disease and its effects on several areas of their life, including mood and physical activity. The interview will be in one of the following formats: 1) in-depth cognitive interview, 2) focus group, or 3) face-to-face interview, as follows: In-Depth Cognitive Interview Participants take part in a one-time interview conducted by one investigator, observed by another, and tape recorded. The interview lasts from 1 to 2 hours. Focus Groups Participants take part in a group interview of from 6 to 10 people during a one-time tape-recorded session that lasts from 2 to 2-1/2 hours. The group discussion is led by a moderator and a facilitator, who takes notes and makes observations. Face-to Face Interview Participants are interviewed twice - first upon enrollment at the NIAMS Community Health Center and again after 6 months' follow-up at the Center.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by the production of multiple autoantibodies. Antibodies against Ficolin-3 were previously identified in the sera of some SLE patients, but their prevalence and significance have not been yet investigated. The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of anti-ficolin-3 antibodies among SLE patients and to investigate their potential as diagnostic and/or prognostic biomarkers in SLE. In this retrospective study, clinical data were obtained from medical files and blood samples were selected from preexisting biological collection. SLE patients (n=165) were informed and did not objected, they were matched to healthy controls (n=48). Disease activity was determined according to the SLEDAI score. Anti-ficolin-3, anti-dsDNA and anti-C1q antibodies levels were measured in sera by ELISA. First, a highly significant difference was found in the anti-ficolin-3 levels between SLE patients and healthy subjects. Anti-ficolin-3 antibodies were detected as positive in 58 of 165 (35%) SLE patients. The titer of anti-ficolin-3 antibodies was correlated with the SLEDAI score (p<0.0001). The presence of anti-ficolin-3 antibodies was associated with anti-C1q and anti-dsDNA antibodies. Regarding associations with clinical manifestations, only the presence of active lupus nephritis was significantly associated with the presence of anti-ficolin-3 antibodies (p=0.0001). This association with renal involvement was higher with anti-ficolin-3 antibodies than with other auto-antibodies. Interestingly, the combination of anti-ficolin-3 and anti-C1q antibodies demonstrated higher specificity than any other traditional biomarker. These results suggest that anti-ficolin-3 could be useful for the diagnosis of active nephritis in SLE patients.