Lupus & antiphospholipid syndrome
Infectious complications of Belimumab with standard care in systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors' conclusion
Meta-analysis results demonstrated that intravenous (IV) Belimumab(≤10 mg/kg), along with standard care, did not significantly increase the risk of infectious complications in SLE patients having mild-to-moderate disease activity, except for bronchitis.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in studies of Belimumab
- Participants
- 8,545 patients8 studies
- Comparison
- Belimumab with standard care vs standard care
- Outcome
- Risk of infectious complications
Methodological detailsrandom-effect model, Cochrane ROB 2 quality assessment, Egger's tests for publication bias, subgroup analysis by Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index (SLEDAI) and British Isles Lupus Assessment Group (BILAG), Four studies had a high attrition bias
- Random-effect model
- Cochrane ROB 2 quality assessment
- Egger's tests for publication bias
- Subgroup analysis by SLEDAI and BILAG
- Four studies had a high attrition bias
Pooled result
As reported in the abstract
Infectious complications
Belimumab with standard care vs Standard careEstimate (95 % CI)
I2=7.7 %
RR (infection) 1.02 ((0.97,1.08))
I2=0 %
RR (serious infections) 0.94 ((0.77,1.15))
I2=36 %
RR (nasopharyngitis) 1.02 ((0.79,1.33))
I2=20.6 %
RR (upper respiratory tract infection) 0.97 ((0.83,1.14))
I2=0 %
RR (urinary tract infection) 1.09 ((0.91,1.32))
I2=0 %
RR (herpes zoster) 0.75 ((0.54,1.05))
I2=0 %
RR (influenza) 0.98 ((0.69,1.39))
I2=23.7 %; reported by authors as the exception
RR (bronchitis) 1.51 ((0.98,2.33))
Further pooled results
Infectious complications by SLEDAI and proportion with BILAG 1A/2B (subgroups)
- No significant impact on infectious complications
Original publication
Infectious complications of Belimumab with standard care in systemic lupus erythematosus: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 14 May 2025. doi:10.
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