METHODS: A retrospective study involving pregnant women with SLE who had antenatal follow-up and delivery in between 1 January 2007 and 1 January 2017. All participants were retrospectively enrolled and categorized into two groups based on hydroxychloroquine treatment during pregnancy.
RESULTS: There were 82 pregnancies included with 47 (57.3%) in the hydroxychloroquine group and 35 (42.7%) in the non-hydroxychloroquine group. Amongst hydroxychloroquine users, there were significantly more pregnancies with musculoskeletal involvement (p = 0.03), heavier mean neonatal birthweight (p = 0.02), and prolonged duration of pregnancy (p = 0.001). In non-hydroxychloroquine patients, there were significantly more recurrent miscarriages (p = 0.003), incidence of hypertension (p = 0.01) and gestational diabetes mellitus (p = 0.01) and concurrent medical illness (p = 0.005). Hydroxychloroquine use during pregnancy was protective against hypertension (p = 0.001), and the gestational age at delivery had significant effect on the neonatal birthweight (p = 0.001). However, duration of the disease had a significant negative effect on the neonatal birthweight (p = 0.016).
CONCLUSION: Hydroxychloroquine enhanced better neonatal outcomes and reduced adverse pregnancy outcomes and antenatal complications such as hypertension and diabetes.
METHODS: Parameters influencing corticosteroid (CS) dosing were identified (step 1). Data from children with proliferative LN were used to generate patient profiles (step 2). Physicians rated changes in renal and extrarenal childhood-onset SLE activity between 2 consecutive visits and proposed CS dosing (step 3). The SSR was developed using patient profile ratings (step 4), with refinements achieved in a physician focus group (step 5). A second type of patient profile describing the course of childhood-onset SLE for ≥4 months since kidney biopsy was rated to validate the SSR-recommended oral and intravenous (IV) CS dosages (step 6). Patient profile adjudication was based on majority ratings for both renal and extrarenal disease courses, and consensus level was set at 80%.
RESULTS: Degree of proteinuria, estimated glomerular filtration rate, changes in renal and extrarenal disease activity, and time since kidney biopsy influenced CS dosing (steps 1 and 2). Considering these parameters in 5,056 patient profile ratings from 103 raters, and renal and extrarenal course definitions, CS dosing rules of the SSR were developed (steps 3-5). Validation of the SSR for up to 6 months post-kidney biopsy was achieved with 1,838 patient profile ratings from 60 raters who achieved consensus for oral and IV CS dosage in accordance with the SSR (step 6).
CONCLUSION: The SSR represents an international consensus on CS dosing for use in patients with childhood-onset SLE and proliferative LN. The SSR is anticipated to be used for clinical care and to standardize CS dosage during clinical trials.
METHODS: Data from the Asia Pacific Lupus Collaboration cohort, in which disease activity and medications were prospectively captured from 2013 to 2018, were used. Predictors of lymphopenia (lymphocyte count <0.8 × 109/l) and neutropenia (neutrophil count <1.5 × 109/l) were examined using multiple failure, time-dependent survival analyses.
RESULTS: Data from 2330 patients and 18 287 visits were analysed. One thousand and eighteen patients (43.7%) had at least one episode of leucopenia; 867 patients (37.2%) had lymphopenia, observed in 3065 (16.8%) visits, and 292 (12.5%) patients had neutropenia, in 622 (3.4%) visits. After multivariable analyses, lymphopenia was associated with overall disease activity, ESR, serology, prednisolone, AZA, MTX, tacrolimus, CYC and rituximab use. MTX and ciclosporin were negatively associated with neutropenia. Lupus low disease activity state was negatively associated with both lymphopenia and neutropenia.
CONCLUSION: Both lymphopenia and neutropenia were common in SLE patients but were differentially associated with disease and treatment variables. Lymphopenia and neutropenia should be considered independently in studies in SLE.