Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Does adding concomitant immunosuppressive therapy to belimumab provide additional benefits in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)? Results from the BEL-Spain Registry
Authors' conclusion
In this real-world cohort, BEL monotherapy achieved similar outcomes to combination therapy with IS in selected SLE patients.
Study context
- Population
- SLE patients treated with belimumab (BEL) with or without immunosuppressants (IS), ≥12 months of follow-up, BEL-Spain Registry
- Participants
- 258 patients
- Exposure
- BEL monotherapy vs BEL with concomitant IS
- BEL monotherapyn = 81
- BEL with ISn = 177reference
- Outcome
- Remission according to the 2021 DORIS definition
- Follow-up
- 12 months
Methodological detailsregistry-based, overlap propensity score weighting
- Registry-based
- Overlap propensity score weighting
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
DORIS 2021 remission
- BEL with IS vs BEL monotherapy: P = NS
- Overlap propensity score weighting
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Secondary outcomes
Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS) and flare rates · 12 months
- Comparable LLDAS and flare rates between groups
GC use
- Progressive GC reduction in both groups; global treatment trajectories otherwise stable
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
Does adding concomitant immunosuppressive therapy to belimumab provide additional benefits in SLE? Results from the BEL-Spain Registry. Rheumatology (Oxford). Published 6 February 2026. doi:10.
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