B-cell monitoring predicts infection risk in childhood SLE patients on belimumab
Authors' conclusion
Early, profound B-cell depletion and IgG reduction are key predictors of infection in belimumab-treated cSLE.
Study context
- Population
- Childhood-onset SLE (cSLE) patients initiating belimumab, followed for 12 months
- Participants
- 78 participants
- Exposure
- Infection vs no infection in cSLE patients initiating belimumab
- Infectionn = 19
- Outcome
- Clinically significant infection requiring antimicrobials
- Follow-up
- 12 months
Methodological detailshistorical cohort, logistic regression, predictive nomogram
- Historical cohort
- Logistic regression
- Predictive nomogram
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Infection
24.4%
19
- Independent predictor (multivariate): CD19+ count <15 cells/μl at 3 months, OR
- 5.82 (2.11-16.03) (95% CI)
- Independent predictor (multivariate): IgG <600 mg/dl at 3 months, OR
- 4.55 (1.63-12.71) (95% CI)
- Independent predictor (multivariate): baseline prednisone >0.5 mg/kg/day, OR
- 3.98 (1.40-11.31) (95% CI)
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
B-cell counts at 3 months · significantly lower in infection group
P < 0.001
| Outcome | Infection | No infection | P value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decline in IgG from baselineGreater decline in infection group | −28.5% | −12.1% | P < 0.001 |
Nomogram accuracy
- AUC
- 0.876 (0.791-0.961) (95% CI)
Original publication
B-cell monitoring predicts infection risk in childhood SLE patients on belimumab. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 15 March 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →