Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Can the dose of belimumab be reduced in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus?
Authors' conclusion
Doses of BEL can be reduced with no relevant changes in disease activity-at least in the short term-in a significant percentage of patients, and most maintain the reduced dose.
Study context
- Population
- SLE patients treated with belimumab (BEL) in Spaindose reduced in 29
- Participants
- 324 patients
- Exposure
- Disease activity before vs after BEL dose reduction
- Outcome
- Prevalence of BEL dose reduction, treatment modalities and impact on control of disease activity
- Follow-up
- 6-12 months
Methodological detailslongitudinal, multicentre, before-after comparison
- Longitudinal
- Multicentre
- Before-after comparison
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Dose reduction of BEL
Dose reduced
29 patients
8.9%
Dosing interval increased, subcutaneous BEL
9 patients
Dosing interval increased, intravenous BEL
6 patients
Dose per administration reduced
16 patients
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Median
| Outcome | Baseline | 12-month visit |
|---|---|---|
| GC dose · 12 months | 2.5 (range 0–5) | 5 (range 0.62–8.75) |
- GC dose: median dose higher at the 12-month visit
Pre-reduction status
- Remission (2021 DORIS)
- 15/26 patients (57.7%)
- LLDAS
- 23/26 patients (88.5%)
Loss of remission after reduction · 6 and 12 months
- Lost remission at 6 months
- 2/24 patients (8.3%)
- Lost remission at 12 months
- 3/22 patients (13.6%)
- NS
Loss of LLDAS after reduction · 6 and 12 months
- Lost LLDAS at 6 months
- 2/23 patients (8.7%)
- Lost LLDAS at 12 months
- 2/21 patients (9.5%)
- NS
Patients taking glucocorticoids (GCs) · 12 months
- Significantly fewer patients taking GCs at 12-month visit
Original publication
Can the dose of belimumab be reduced in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus? Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 13 May 2024. doi:10.
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