Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Belimumab as a possible treatment for SLE-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension: the experience from a single centre
Authors' conclusion
Belimumab combined with standard PAH-targeted therapy was associated with improvements in right ventricular structure and function in patients with SLE-PAH compared with conventional immunosuppression.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with SLE-associated PAH, all on dual or triple combination PAH-targeted therapy, January 2022 to January 2025matched on age, sex, WHO functional class (WHO-FC), PAH and SLE therapy
- Participants
- 10 vs 30
- Exposure
- IV belimumab (10 mg/kg) vs conventional immunosuppression without biologics, with PAH-targeted therapy
- Belimumabn = 10
- Matched controlsn = 30reference
- Outcome
- RV structure and function (TAPSE/PASP, RVDd)
- Follow-up
- 12 months
Methodological detailsmatched controls, single-centre, Followed for 12 months by the same medical team
- Matched controls
- Single-centre
- Followed for 12 months by the same medical team
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
12 months
- Greater improvement in TAPSE/PASP and RVDd with belimumab vs matched controls, statistically significant differences between groups
- Matched cohort
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Within-group changes with belimumab
- Rapid and sustained improvements in NT-proBNP, WHO-FC, 6-minute walking distance, sST2, TAPSE/PASP and RVDd
PAH risk category · 12 months
- Matched controls: intermediate-low risk
- 1
- Matched controls: intermediate-high risk
- 4
- Belimumab: all patients low risk
Original publication
Belimumab as a possible treatment for SLE-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension: the experience from a single centre. Lupus Sci Med. Published 18 June 2026. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →