Serologically Active, Clinically Stable Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Summary

The first part of this study will use the database of a large, ongoing NIH-sponsored lupus study, Safety of Estrogen in Lupus Erythematosus National Assessment. We will examine the levels of a blood protein known as C3a in a series of patient blood samples to see if C3a levels predict lupus flares or are better than other blood tests, and therefore should be used more widely in managing lupus. In the second part of the study we will add or increase prednisone treatment on the basis of abnormalities in blood tests for C3a and dsDNA antibodies. Early treatment based on increases in C3a and dsDNA antibodies, before the patient develops physical signs of disease, may reduce lupus flares and, ultimately, the patient's total steroid exposure. We will follow study participants for 1 year on a monthly basis and do full physical examinations and laboratory evaluations. If C3a and dsDNA antibody levels are increased significantly above baseline levels while a patient is clinically stable, we will give the patient either prednisone or an inactive pill (placebo) for 1 month. We will follow these patients monthly to compare how often lupus flares occur in the two groups. This approach could provide a novel method of preventing lupus flares, using C3a as a sensitive predictor of flare.

Timeline

Start

1997-09

Primary completion

2002-08

Completion

2003-08

Publications

• Background Belmont HM, Hopkins P, Edelson HS, Kaplan HB, Ludewig R, Weissmann G, Abramson S. Complement activation during systemic lupus erythematosus. C3a and C5a anaphylatoxins circulate during exacerbations of disease. Arthritis Rheum. 1986 Sep;29(9):1085-9. doi: 10.1002/art.1780290905.
• Background Hopkins P, Belmont HM, Buyon J, Philips M, Weissmann G, Abramson SB. Increased levels of plasma anaphylatoxins in systemic lupus erythematosus predict flares of the disease and may elicit vascular injury in lupus cerebritis. Arthritis Rheum. 1988 May;31(5):632-41. doi: 10.1002/art.1780310508.
• Background Buyon JP, Tamerius J, Belmont HM, Abramson SB. Assessment of disease activity and impending flare in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Comparison of the use of complement split products and conventional measurements of complement. Arthritis Rheum. 1992 Sep;35(9):1028-37. doi: 10.1002/art.1780350907.
• Results Tseng CE, Buyon JP, Kim M, Belmont HM, Mackay M, Diamond B, Marder G, Rosenthal P, Haines K, Ilie V, Abramson SB. The effect of moderate-dose corticosteroids in preventing severe flares in patients with serologically active, but clinically stable, systemic lupus erythematosus: findings of a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Arthritis Rheum. 2006 Nov;54(11):3623-32. doi: 10.1002/art.22198.

Drugs

Indications