Lupus Science and Medicine Podcast

To RNase or Not to RNase: That Is the Question

Join Dr. Anna Wolska and Dr. Jim Posada as they delve into the intricacies of RNAse therapy in the management of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). In this podcast episode, Dr. Posada describes the groundbreaking study evaluating the efficacy of RSLV-132, a novel RNAse molecule fused to human IgG1 Fc, in reducing chronic inflammation associated with cutaneous lupus. Key findings from the clinical trial reveal that patients with moderate to severe cutaneous disease activity were administered RSLV-132 over a span of six months. Disease activity was evaluated using the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI) score and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K). These findings suggest that RNAse therapy may be effective in patients with higher disease activity.
 
Read the related paper in LSM - https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2023-001113

A decision-aid facilitates patient understanding of benefits vs. risk of hydroxychloriquine use as part of routine care for lupus

Dr. Anna Wolska engages in a conversation with Dr. Shivani Garg and Dr. Christie Bartels to delve into the development and implementation of HCQ-SAFE. This innovative decision-aid is designed to empower individuals living with lupus to engage in shared-decision making. The authors discuss the importance of streamlining and enhancing shared decision-making dynamics between patients and healthcare providers regarding the utilization of hydroxychloroquine, a cornerstone therapy in lupus. The tool can be accessed through the following link: http://hcqsafe.medicine.wisc.edu/
 
Read the article: https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2023-000935

Dual dsDNA testing may be needed to fully understand patient disease status

Dr. Anna Wolska speaks to Dr. Michael Belmont and Devyn Zaminski to discuss the importance of dual dsDNA testing in order to full understand disease activity. In this study, they made the observation that there is a large amount of discordance in anti-dsDNA antibodies assays. Misinterpretation or errors in anti- dsDNA antibody testing could have negative implications on long term outcomes in people living with SLE.
 
Read the related paper - https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2023-001012

Is Anifrolumab an effective treatment for lupus nephritis?

Dr. Anna Wolska engages in a discussion with renowned experts, Dr. Catharina Lindholm and Dr. David Jayne, to explore findings from the phase II TULIP Lupus Nephritis trial. This in-depth conversation centers on results from a clinical trial where they evaluated the efficacy of intensified anifrolumab treatment in individuals with active lupus nephritis.
 
Read the article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2023-000910

Which one is better at controlling lupus: Belimumab or Anifrolumab?

Dr. Anna Wolska sits down with experts, Dr. Michelle Petri and Dr. Nick Ballew, analyzing the effectiveness of SLE treatments Belimumab and Anifrolumab. The conversation delves into their meticulous study, where they examined the 52-week SLE Responder Index (SRI)-4 responses, providing crucial data for informed lupus patient care. The study data, based on rigorous randomized trials and systematic literature reviews, offers clinicians invaluable insights into treatment decisions for people living with lupus.
 
Read the published article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2023-000907

Managing Lupus Nephritis: Importance of Immunosuppression and Mitigation of Tissue Fibrosis

Dr. Anna Wolska from the Lupus Foundation of America interviews Drs. Ana Malvar and Brad Rovin. They discuss using repeat tissue biopsies to understand progression of lupus nephritis over time. They offer conjecture that both immunosuppression as well as mitigation of tissue fibrosis, resulting from inflammatory resolution, are needed in order to preserve kidney function and prevent progression to kidney failure.
 
Read the related article - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2023-000932

Testing a new measure of lupus improvement that encompasses the patients’ perspectives and doctors’ evaluations

Dr. Anna Wolska from the Lupus Foundation of America interviews Drs. Anca Askanase and Joan Merrill, the developers of the LFA-REAL tool. Together, they discuss the importance of using a tool like LFA-REAL to understand how clinician and patient reported outcomes are essential for understanding efficacy and effectiveness of experimental therapeutics developed to treat people living with lupus.
 
Read the article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2022-000875

Understanding Lupus: Exploring the Differences between Type 1 and Type 2 Symptoms

Dr. Anna Wolska from the Lupus Foundation of America interviews Dr. Amrie Grammer and Dr. Peter Lipsky from AMPEL BioSolutions. Together they describe the molecular endotypes of Type 1 and Type 2 Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. This episode uncovers the distinct molecular profiles of these SLE types and paves the way for personalized treatment approaches based on these classifications.
 
Link to published paper: https://lupus.bmj.com/content/10/1/e000861

Unpacking Lupus Treatment: How Quickly Does Anifrolumab Start Working? Insights from TULIP Trials

Dr. Anna Wolska from the Lupus Foundation of America interviews Dr. Ian Bruce, from the University of Manchester in the UK. Dr Bruce discusses the time to onset of clinical response to Anifrolumab in patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. The episode delves into pooled data from two significant Phase III trials, TULIP-1 and TULIP-2, offering listeners a deep understanding of the effectiveness and timeline of Anifrolumab treatment.
 
Read the article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2022-000761

Biomarker reduction indicates treatment response to Belimumab

Dr. Anna Wolska from the Lupus Foundation of America interviews Dr. Andrea Fava from Johns Hopkins University about Belimumab treatment in lupus nephritis. Dr Fava elucidates on the correlation between the decrease in urinary CD163 levels and the response to Belimumab treatment in Lupus Nephritis trials. The conversation provides important insights into the efficacy of this treatment option and potential biomarker use for personalized and precision medicine in the future.
 
Read the article: dx.doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2022-000763