Drugs, Sebastiani (SIR): “Biological therapy effective against systemic lupus erythematosus”

During the ‘Roman rheumatological meetings 2022’ ample space was given to the analysis of the latest news regarding systemic lupus erythematosus. To illustrate them is Professor Gian Domenico Sebastiani, scientific manager of the event now in its fifth edition, President-elect of the Italian Society of Rheumatology (SIR) and Director of UOC Rheumatology, San Camillo Hospital – Forlanini: “It is an autoimmune, chronic inflammatory disease that it mainly affects women between 20 and 40 years old. However, there is no shortage of cases of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus among children, young and old. An infrequent but not rare disease. The early approach is very important because it allows you to act promptly and prevent the disease from causing damage “. The advent of biological drugs, according to Sebastiani, has changed the approach to the disease. “We have had belimumab available for nearly 10 years, which has produced significant benefits for our patients. This therapy, in fact, allows to reduce, sometimes eliminate, the dosage of cortisone that each patient must take. A fundamental aspect because cortisone contributes in an important way to the damage in lupus. So having a drug that eliminates cortisone actually means helping to improve the quality of life of people with this disease. The drug helps reduce the flare-ups of lupus. Even for patients with lupus nephritis, one of the most severe manifestations for these sufferers, belimumab has recently received the indication and reimbursement. Previously, therapy was only approved for patients with active lupus erythematosus because patients with lupus nephritis were excluded from the pivotal study. Subsequently, a study was conducted to verify the efficacy of belimumab also in lupus patients with lupus nephritis. And the results of the study showed that the drug is also effective for the latter. Thanks to this latest study, belimumab can now be used right from the start in combination with other immunosuppressants: a polytherapy administered immediately to the patient and maintained over time with the appropriate dosages in order to minimize side effects “.