View clinical trials related to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.
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
The purpose of this study is to test the safety of triptorelin when used for the protection of the ovaries (pair of female reproductive organs) during cyclophosphamide therapy for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE; lupus) and to see what effects (good or bad) it has on patients. The study will be done with female patients who have been diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus, are younger than 21 years of age, and require intravenous cyclophosphamide to control the disease. Each patient will be in the study for approximately 23 months, until 4 months after the intravenous cyclophosphamide treatment has been completed. This study is currently being conducted at 3 sites across the United States and Brazil (Los Angeles, Cincinnati and San Paulo Brazil). A total of 50 patients will participate in this study. Each patient will be randomized (assigned) to one of 5 groups. Randomization means that patients are put into a group completely by chance. It is like flipping a coin. Neither the patient nor the study staff knows what group the patient is in. The patient has a 20% chance of being placed in any group. This is a dose escalation study, each patient will receive the first dose of the study drug (T1 - T4, placebo). If a patient has complete ovarian suppression on day 27 after the initial injection of study drug, then she will remain on this weight-adjusted dose of study drug throughout the study. The dose will be increased up for a weight gain of 5kg or greater. The dose will not be adjusted downward for a weight loss. If COS was not maintained with the 1st dose of study drug, then the subsequently injected 2nd dose will be increased by 25% or at least 20 microgram/kg/dose. The maximal dose of 150 microgram/kg/dose will not be exceeded. The absolute maximum dose is 20 mg. Funding Source: FDA OOPD and Watson Pharmaceuticals
Cardiovascular disease, specifically from atherosclerosis, is the major cause of mortality in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in developed countries. Coronary artery disease and stroke contribute to long-term morbidity in surviving patients. Atherosclerosis in SLE is multifactorial, with immune/inflammatory endothelial damage, traditional cardiovascular risk factors, and prothrombotic factors all playing important roles. Multiple groups have shown that hyperlipidemia is predictive of later atherosclerosis in SLE. In the general population, statins have become the drug of choice in preventing atherosclerotic events, through two mechanisms: lipid lowering that helps to prevent progression, and stabilization of plaques to prevent rupture. In the Lupus Atherosclerosis Prevention Trial we will determine if atorvastatin reduces the progression of atherosclerosis on helical computed tomography (CT) and carotid duplex. Recent work has confirmed that statins have an immunomodulatory role. This study will also determine whether statins improve clinical lupus activity or lupus serologies (anti-dsDNA and complement).