Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Enhancing systemic lupus erythematosus treatment outcomes with an early initiation of belimumab: insights from a multicenter retrospective study within the first five years
Authors' conclusion
These results highlight the importance of early BEL initiation in SLE, demonstrating that patients with shorter disease durations achieve more substantial improvements in disease activity with early BEL treatment.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (1997 ACR or 2012 Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC) criteria) starting belimumab (BEL) between December 2017 and August 2021, followed ≥ 12 months111 initially registered
- Participants
- 97 patients
- Exposure
- Belimumab initiated with SLE duration ≤ 5 years vs > 5 years
- ≤ 5-yearn = 19
- > 5 yearsn = 78reference
- Outcome
- Change in SELENA-SLEDAI scores after BEL introduction
- Follow-up
- 3, 6, 9, and 12 months
Methodological detailsmulticenter, mixed-effects model adjusted for age, prednisolone dosage, initial SELENA-SLEDAI, SDI, HCQ use and LN
- Multicenter
- Mixed-effects model adjusted for age, prednisolone dosage, initial SELENA-SLEDAI, SDI, HCQ use and LN
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Improvement in SELENA-SLEDAI scores · 6, 9, and 12 months
- Significantly greater improvements in SELENA-SLEDAI at 6, 9 and 12 months with ≤ 5 years of disease
- ≤ 5-year vs > 5 years: P < 0.05
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
| Outcome | P value |
|---|---|
| Baseline SELENA-SLEDAI scoresHigher in the ≤ 5-year group, indicating more active disease | P = 0.047 |
Original publication
Enhancing systemic lupus erythematosus treatment outcomes with an early initiation of belimumab: insights from a multicenter retrospective study within the first five years. Arthritis Res Ther. Published 29 May 2025. doi:10.
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