Lupus Research News

American College Of Rheumatology 2011 Annual Meeting: Presentations By NYU Langone Experts

2011-12-28T15:27:00.000-06:00

Experts from NYU Langone Medical Center will present new research findings and clinical insight into the treatment of rheumatic and bone diseases in a variety of presentations at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, November 5-9, 2011. more...

Transportation And Childcare Difficulties Top Reasons For Missed Lupus Appointments

2011-12-28T15:21:00.000-06:00

The first step towards successful medical care is to see a physician, but for some patients this isn't as simple or easy as it may sound.A study presented at the 2011 Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in Chicago, finds that many lupus patients with low socioeconomic status are unable to attend scheduled appointments with physicians due to daily obstacles. more..

Successful Pregnancy Outcomes For Most Women With Lupus

2011-12-28T15:16:00.000-06:00

Promising research led by investigators at Hospital for Special Surgery may offer hope for women with lupus who once thought that pregnancy was too risky.Results from the multicenter National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded PROMISSE initiative, being presented Monday, Nov more...

Lupus Plus Shortness of Breath: Don't Miss This Diagnosis

2011-12-28T15:07:00.000-06:00

A 27-year-old African American woman with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) of 5 years' duration presents to her rheumatologist for evaluation of shortness of breath that started 3 weeks ago. more...

XToll Completely Prevented Cutaneous Lupus In Animal Study

2011-12-28T14:58:00.000-06:00

CBio Limited have announced the publication of their animal trial on the advanced access site of the Oxford Journals publication, Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation. The research is titled - "Recombinant chaperonin10 (Xtoll) suppresses cutaneous lupus and lupus nephritis in MRL-(Fas)lpr mice. more...

A Simpler System Would Make It Easier For Clinicians To Treat Kidney Problems In Lupus Patients

2011-12-28T14:50:00.000-06:00

The current classification system for kidney complications in patients with lupus is too detailed, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Journal of the American Society Nephrology (JASN). more...

Statins Disappoint In Atherosclerosis Progression In Children With Lupus

2011-12-28T14:45:00.000-06:00

According to the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) 322,000 adult Americans are affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) with approximately 5,000 to 10,000 children in the U.S. affected by lupus (Lehman 1996), although exact figures for pediatric SLE cases remain difficult to establish. more...

Long-Term Impairments of Functioning in Obese Women with Lupus

2011-12-03T16:38:00.000-06:00

Relatively few studies have been conducted about the role and effects of obesity in the lives of people with lupus. Obesity is associated with disability, both in the general population and among people with lupus. Since up to half of people with lupus may be obese, it is important to determine to what extent specific functions (such as walking or climbing stairs) are impaired in people with lupus. Identification of preventable risk factors for disability, such as obesity, has the potential to decrease the negative effects of obesity on functioning in people with lupus. more...

Variable Effects of Two Influenza A (H1N1) Vaccinations in People with Lupus

2011-12-03T16:34:00.000-06:00

Most of the world’s population had little or no pre-existing immunological protection against the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic. People with lupus were considered to be at especially high risk and were recommended for vaccination. Relatively little is known, however, about the effects of influenza vaccinations in people with lupus. This vaccination had variable effects in people with lupus and depended on their white blood cell count and on whether they were taking immune-suppressing drugs. The results highlight the importance of acquiring increased knowledge about and perhaps developing additional strategies for vaccinating people with lupus against influenza A (H1N1). more...

Genetic Profiling Can Predict Some Lupus Manifestations

2011-12-03T16:30:00.000-06:00

People with lupus can experience a wide variety of disease-related manifestations, including nephritis (kidney inflammation) and skin rashes. The variability of these symptoms likely results from underlying genetic factors. While most studies have focused on identifying the presence of specific genes that increase the risk of developing lupus, few studies have focused on which genes may give rise to which manifestations of lupus. Identification of which genes may be associated with which lupus manifestations could help facilitate the future development of personalized medicine for people with lupus. more...

NYC Walk with Us to Cure Lupus First Lupus Walk in History to Raise $1 Million

2011-12-03T14:26:00.000-06:00

On Saturday, October 22nd the Alliance for Lupus Research (ALR) held our 8th annual New York City Walk with Us to Cure Lupus. The beautiful weather at Battery Park was matched by the enthusiasm of the nearly 3000 walkers in attendance to walk for the cure. The walkers were joined by NYC master of ceremonies, My9 news anchor Brenda Blackmon, ALR Chairman Robert Wood Johnson IV, and Walk Co-chairs Frank Bisignano, Chief Administrative Officer JPMorgan Chase; Daniel LaVecchia, Executive Managing Director BGC Partners; and Mark Wagar, President & CEO Empire BlueCross BlueShield. Spoken poet Shanelle Gabriel inspired the crowd with “Vanity”, her moving personal account of life with lupus. more..

$8 Million Bloomberg Grant Launches Search for Fundamental Causes Driving to a Cure

2011-12-03T14:16:00.000-06:00

The Lupus Research Institute (LRI) launched a major international initiative aimed at attracting the highest level scientists to conduct pioneering research to discover the fundamental root causes of lupus, explore the potential for a cure, and transform the field of lupus research. LRI president Margaret Dowd announced the new Distinguished Innovators program amid the nation’s foremost scientists gathered at the 11th annual Lupus Research Institute Scientific Conference, “Forum for Discovery.” more..

First-Time Guidelines for Lupus Nephritis: Biopsy for All

2011-11-16T06:20:00.000-06:00

The first guidelines ever developed for the management of lupus nephritis recommend that physicians biopsy all patients who present with clinical evidence of active disease, classify the disease stage according to the International Society of Nephrology/Renal Pathology Society classification system, and manage the disease on the basis of this classification. more...

Self-Reported Effects of Cutaneous Lupus on Quality of Life

2011-11-15T10:54:00.000-06:00

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun can worsen symptoms of cutaneous lupus (CLE). “Photosensitivity” describes a variety of reactions to sun exposure in CLE patients and, accordingly, CLE patients may be described as being more or less “photosensitive” or not at all. However, the reported prevalence of photosensitivity among CLE patients varies widely due to a number of factors related to its measurement. more...

Video Game Can Reduce Fatigue in African-American Women With Lupus

2011-11-15T10:49:00.000-06:00

Lupus affects many more women than men and many of these women are African-American. Over 80% of people with lupus experience clinically significant levels of fatigue that can disrupt normal daily activities. This fatigue is not necessarily due to use of medications for lupus or to inflammation. more...

New Experimental Molecule Neutralizes Lupus Autoantibodies

2011-11-15T10:41:00.000-06:00

Lupus in humans and animals is marked by production of autoantibodies (antibodies against one’s self) that can cause inflammation, as well as damage components of cells (such as double-stranded DNA or cardiolipin) of one’s own body. In particular, antibodies to double-stranded DNA (ds-DNA) contribute to organ damage. more...

“Life Without Lupus Gala 2011: A Night at the Museum”

2011-10-19T15:32:00.000-05:00

S.L.E. LUPUS FOUNDATION HOSTS
“Life Without Lupus Gala 2011: A Night at the Museum”
Honoring U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg & Mrs. Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg, and Daniel J. Wallace, MD, Founder, Lupus LA

Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and activist Carole King to Perform

More than 600 members of New York City’s philanthropic, business and health care communities will join forces at the S.L.E. Lupus Foundation Life Without Lupus Gala 2011 on Monday, November 21, 2011 at The American Museum of Natural History. Aptly named “A Night at the Museum,” this year’s black tie gala, co-hosted by Willie Geist, Co-Host of MSNBC’s Morning Joe and Natalie Morales, News Anchor at NBC’s Today Show, will herald the quantum leap taking place in lupus research.

U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg and Mrs. Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg will be honored for their help in making lupus a national priority. Mrs. Lautenberg’s sister and S.L.E. Lupus Foundation Board member, Carol Weisman, was diagnosed with lupus at age 19. Daniel J. Wallace (MD, FACP, FACR), founder of Lupus LA, will be presented with the Foundation’s Medical Leadership Award.

Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and activist Carole King will perform a tapestry of songs in honor of all women living with lupus. A live auction conducted by Jamie Niven, renowned auctioneer of Sotheby’s, will allow participants to support specific cutting-edge research at many world-renowned renowned institutions. Guests will enjoy a full program and sumptuous dinner served by Caterer Restaurant Associates, the official caterer for the Museum.

Serving as this year’s Dinner Chairs are Jennie & Richard DeScherer; Morrie Golick; Susan Golick & Alan Wasserman; Phyllis & William Mack; Fern & Lenard Tessler; Carol & Michael Weisman; and Lois & Andrew Zaro. Mayor Mike Bloomberg serves as Honorary Dinner Chair.

WHAT: S.L.E. Lupus Foundation hosts “Life Without Lupus Gala 2011: A Night at the Museum” honoring U.S. Senator Frank Lautenberg & Mrs. Bonnie Englebardt Lautenberg, and Daniel J. Wallace, MD, Founder, Lupus LA. Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and activist Carole King will perform. The event will be emceed by Willie Geist, Co-Host MSNBC’s Morning Joe, and Natalie Morales, News Anchor at NBC’s Today Show.

WHERE: American Museum of Natural History -- Central Park West at 79th Street, New York

WHEN: Monday, November 21, 2011 -- 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

TICKETS: For information, visit www.lupusny.org or call Anita Cruso at 1-212-685.4118 x. 29 acruso@lupusny.org

 Individual tickets start at: $1,000
 Table for 10 and Journal recognition at varying levels:
• Benefactor: $10,000
• Pacesetter: $15,000
• Advancement Society: $25,000
• Leadership Society: $50,000
• Founders Circle $100,000+
 Advertisements in the dinner journal range from $500.00 to $5,000.

About S.L.E. Lupus Foundation: The S.L.E. Lupus Foundation is the country’s preeminent organization delivering direct patient services, public education and novel research at a national level. Founded 40 years ago in New York City by lupus patients and their families as the first nonprofit to serve the lupus community, it remains the cornerstone of comprehensive care in all five boroughs in the continuous battle for a Life Without Lupus.

Women with Lupus Have Decreased Risk for Certain Cancers

2011-10-17T15:38:00.000-05:00

Cancer risk in lupus is an important topic. Little attention has been focused on women's cancers, even though lupus affects mostly women. Up to now, there have been relatively few studies of the development of these cancers in women with lupus. In this study, the researchers aimed to estimate the risk of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers in women with lupus relative to that for the general population. more...

Comparison of Lupus Nephritis Classifications of Two International Organizations

2011-10-17T15:31:00.000-05:00

Kidney involvement occurs in about 60% of people with lupus and is a major determinant of long-term disease outcome. The World Health Organization (WHO) published multiple versions of their classifications for lupus nephritis from 1975-2001, but they had several limitations. In 2004, the International Society of Nephrology-Renal Pathology Society (ISN-RPS) revised the WHO classifications for lupus nephritis. The researchers aimed to determine the effects of the ISN-RPS re-classifications for lupus nephritis on patient outcomes. more...

Lack of Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in a Canadian Population of Lupus Patients

2011-10-17T15:04:00.000-05:00

People with lupus have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke due to premature hardening of the arteries. This increased risk is due in part to traditional risk factors and in part due to lupus-specific immune dysfunction. The researchers aimed to evaluate how effectively risk for heart disease was being assessed in a population of lupus patients being cared for in Alberta, Canada. more...

The U.S. Department of Defense Awards $2.3 Million in Funding for Lupus Research

2011-10-10T20:42:00.000-05:00

The Lupus Foundation of America (LFA) Congratulates Trine Jorgensen, Ph.D., Cleveland Clinic Foundation and I-Cheng Ho, M.D., Ph.D., Brigham and Women’s Hospital. more...

Continued Treatment For Lupus May Boost Survival Of Those Patients With End-Stage Kidney Disease

2011-10-06T20:28:00.000-05:00

Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University have shown that close supervision by rheumatologists and the use of immunosuppressant drugs improve the survival of lupus patients with end-stage kidney disease a finding that could reverse long-standing clinical practice. more...

OMRF completes African-American lupus genetics study

2011-09-28T16:49:00.001-05:00

Researchers have long known that lupus strikes African-Americans at a disproportionately high rate. Now, in the most comprehensive genetic study to date of this group, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation scientists have found evidence linking the disease in African-Americans to five genes. more..

New fat-derived stem cell treatment restores Lupus body functions

2011-09-28T16:46:00.000-05:00

Lupus is a tenacious autoimmune disease, affecting about 1.4 million people in the U.S. Considered a high risk disease for mortality and organ damage, a recent study has discovered that fat-derived stem cells can restore lupus to normal body functions. more...

Migraines are not a lupus symptom: study

2011-09-28T16:40:00.000-05:00

Despite a commonly-held belief among many doctors who treat lupus patients, headaches -- particularly migraines -- are not a manifestation of that disease and should be treated as a separate problem, report researchers in Greece. more...