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1: Arthritis Res. 2002;4 Suppl 3:S25-30. Epub 2002 May 9.
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Therapy of systemic lupus erythematosus: a look into the future.

Smolen JS.

Department of Rheumatology, Internal Medicine III, Vienna General Hospital, University of Vienna, Austria. smj@2me.khl.magwien.gv.at

The prognosis for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus has greatly improved over the past two decades. However, therapies that are more effective and that have fewer sequelae are needed to rescue patients from organ failure and further reduce mortality. Research under way, including that into induction of tolerance to self-antigens, prevention of the consequences of pathogenic autoantibody production, interference with the cytokine network and signal transduction, the identification and treatment of any infectious triggers, and stem cell therapy, offers hope of improved remedies or even of cure. Given the fact that a number of biological therapies for rheumatologic disease are already in use or are in the development stage, such progress may come soon.

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PMID: 12110120 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]