View clinical trials related to Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic.
Filter by:Lupus and vasculitis are autoimmune conditions which can be life threatening. In order to treat these conditions toxic therapies such as cyclophosphamide and steroids are often required. These standard treatments are associated with significant side effects. Furthermore a proportion of patient do not respond to these conventional therapies. Newer safer therapies are being sought. Rituximab is a drug that eliminates B cell from the blood. B cells are one part of the human immune system that helps prevent infections. Abnormal activity of the immune system is responsible for autoimmune disease although the exact mechanisms in lupus and vasculitis are not yet established. Rituximab is liscenced as a treatment for a form of B cell cancer called non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and has a good safety track record when used in this context. It has recently been used to treat some autoimmune conditions with positive results. In this pilot study we wish to assess the effectiveness and safety of rituximab in patients with lupus and vascultis that are resistant to conventional therpies.
To examine the psychometric properties of a brief quality of life (QOL) instrument for use in pediatric systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The purpose of this prospective study is primarily to determine the validity and reliability of a new health-related quality of life (HRQOL) measure in children with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE). We wish to secondarily examine concordance between child- and parent-reports of the HRQOL measure and identify factors associated with poorer HRQOL in them. Earlier studies have shown that SLE significantly impacts QOL in adults. At present, there is no disease-specific instrument for measuring HRQOL in children with SLE. In response to these concerns, we developed the "Simple Measure of Impact of Lupus Erythematosus in Youngsters© (SMILEY©). Establishing the validity and reliability of SMILEY©, examining child-parent agreement and identifying factors associated with poorer HRQOL will enable us to measure the impact of SLE in children, and formulate appropriate interventions for this sensitive population. We plan the following specific aims: 1. to determine construct validity and reliability of SMILEY© child and parent versions in children with SLE using gold standards (Pediatric Quality of Life inventory - PedsQL generic and rheumatology modules, Childhood Health Assessment Questionnaire -CHAQ) 2. to determine responsiveness of SMILEY© 3. to examine level of agreement between child- and parent-reports of SMILEY© in children with SLE 4. to identify medical (steroid use, use of disease modifying agents such as cytoxan, cellcept, thalidomide, or cyclosporine, disease duration, disease activity and disease damage etc.) and psychosocial (self-concept, socioeconomic status) factors that affect HRQOL (as measured by child- and parent-reports of SMILEY© and PedsQL generic and rheumatology modules) and physical function 5) to translate, adapt and validate SMILEY in different languages
This study is designed to examine whether treating patients with lupus with high dose cyclophosphamide together with rATG/rituximab (drugs which reduce the function of the immune system), followed by return of their previously collected stem cells will result in improvement in the disease. Stem cells are undeveloped cells that have the capacity to grow into mature blood cells, which normally circulate in the blood stream. The purpose of the intense chemotherapy is to destroy the cells in the immune system which may be causing this disease. The purpose of the stem cell infusion is to produce a normal immune system that will no longer attack body. The study purpose is to examine whether this treatment will result in improvement in the lupus disease.
In patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, immunosuppressive therapy to the point of complete immune ablation and hematopoietic stem cell recovery.
The purpose of this study is to perform genetic testing in and to collect information from families affected by lupus in order to identify the genetic factors associated with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of DHEA on endothelial dysfunction in patients with systemic lupus by measuring: 1. changes in brachial artery flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) and 2. changes in biomarkers of cardiovascular risk. Patients will be enrolled in a randomized, double-blinded crossover trial of DHEA or placebo for ten weeks, then crossed over to the alternate treatment arm after a six-week washout period. HYPOTHESIS: Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) administration in premenopausal women with SLE modifies cardiovascular risk by improving vascular endothelial function and other biomarkers associated with cardiovascular heart disease.
Neuropsychiatric manifestations of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (NPSLE) are both common and an important source of morbidity. Of the case definitions for NPSLE syndromes that have recently been developed, cognitive dysfunction appears to be the most prevalent. A novel mechanism is that a subset of SLE patients with cognitive dysfunction have antibodies in the NR2 glutamate receptor. We propose, in a double -blind placebo-controlled trial, to determine whether SLE patients, with or without the NR2 glutamate receptor antibody, have significant improvement using memantine, an inhibitor of the NMDA receptor.
To address the issues of skin denervation and its clinical and pathological correlations in systemic lupus erythematosus
This is a Phase II/III, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study to evaluate the efficacy and safety of rituximab compared with placebo when combined with a single stable background immunosuppressive medication in subjects with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The primary efficacy endpoint of the trial will be evaluated at 52 weeks.
The investigators study the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus in the treatment of membranous nephritis secondary to systemic lupus erythematosus.