Zev Sthoeger MD, Margalit Lorber MD, Yuval Tal MD, Elias Toubi MD, Howard Amital MD, Shaye Kivity MD, Pnina Langevitz MD, Ilan Asher MD, Daniel Elbirt MD and Nancy Agmon Levin MD
Background: Anti-BLyS treatment with the human belimumab monoclonal antibody was shown to be a safe and effective therapeutic modality in lupus patients with active disease (i.e., without significant neurological/renal involvement) despite standard treatment.
Objectives: To evaluate the “real-life” safety and efficacy of belimumab added to standard therapy in patents with active lupus in five Israeli medical centers.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective open-labeled study of 36 lupus patients who received belimumab monthly for at least 1 year in addition to standard treatment. Laboratory tests (C3/C4, anti dsDNA autoantibodies, chemistry, urinalysis and complete blood count) were done every 3–4 months. Adverse events were obtained from patients’ medical records. Efficacy assessment by the treating physicians was defined as excellent, good/partial, or no response.
Results: The study group comprised 36 lupus patients (8 males, 28 females) with a mean age of 41.6 } 12.2 years. Belimumab was given for a mean period of 2.3 } 1.7 years (range 1–7). None of the patients discontinued belimumab due to adverse events. Four patients (11.1%) had an infection related to belimumab. Only 5 patients (13.9%) stopped taking belimumab due to lack of efficacy. The response was excellent in 25 patients (69.5%) and good/partial in the other 6 (16.6%). Concomitantly, serological response (reduction of C3/C4 and anti-dsDNA autoantibodies) was also observed. Moreover, following belimumab treatment, there was a significant reduction in the usage of corticosteroids (from 100% to 27.7%) and immunosuppressive agents (from 83.3% to 8.3%).
Conclusions: Belimumab, in addition to standard therapy, is a safe and effective treatment for active lupus patients.
Uri Aviv MD, Daniel Ben Ner, Nardeen Sharif, Zvi Gur MD and Asaf Achiron MD
Pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PES) is a common age-related disorder affecting 60–70 million people worldwide. Patients with PES have abnormal production and deposition of fibrillar material in the anterior chamber of the eye. These exfoliated fibrils, easily detected by ocular slit-lamp examination, have also been found to exist systematically in the skin, heart, lungs, liver and kidneys. Recently, myriad studies have associated PES with systemic conditions such as increased vascular risk, risk of dementia and inflammatory state. We review here the most current literature on the systemic implications of PES. Our aim is to encourage further studies on this important clinical entity.