Lupus research, hydroxychloroquine and cardiovascular heart healthNews

New Lupus Research Highlights Heart Health

September 23, 2026

New research is offering another important reason for people living with lupus to have informed conversations with their healthcare providers about taking prescribed medications consistently.

A recent study examined the relationship between hydroxychloroquine (HCQ)—one of the most widely used treatments for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)—and cardiovascular risk. Researchers studied 248 adults with lupus, looking at hydroxychloroquine blood levels and longer-term medication use.

The researchers found that patients with very low HCQ blood levels and low long-term medication intake had higher estimated cardiovascular risk than patients with greater exposure to the medication. The findings add to growing research examining the relationship between lupus treatment and long-term heart health.

Why Heart Health Matters in Lupus

Lupus is a complex autoimmune disease that can affect many parts of the body, including the cardiovascular system. Understanding and managing cardiovascular risk can therefore be an important part of long-term lupus care.

Hydroxychloroquine has long been a foundational treatment for many people living with lupus. The new research provides another reason for patients and healthcare providers to discuss medication adherence, appropriate monitoring and cardiovascular health as part of an individualized treatment plan.

Turning Research Into Better Patient Conversations

Medication decisions should always be made in consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. Patients should not begin, stop or change the dosage of hydroxychloroquine—or any medication—based solely on the results of a research study.

At The Reid Foundation for Lupus®, we believe access to credible, understandable information can help people affected by lupus become better informed and more engaged in their healthcare. As research continues to advance our understanding of this complex disease, we will continue sharing developments that matter to the lupus community.

Source: Arthritis Care & Research / Yale School of Medicine.

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New lupus research on measuring long-term organ damageNews

New Research Aims to Improve How Long-Term Damage Is Measured in Lupus

August 27, 2026

New research is advancing efforts to improve how doctors measure long-term organ damage in people living with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Researchers are working to modernize the SLICC/ACR Damage Index, a long-standing tool used to assess permanent damage that can develop over time as a result of lupus, its complications or treatment.

As part of the effort, 146 health professionals and people with lupus from 35 countries participated in a consensus process that reviewed 226 potential measures. The group ultimately narrowed those measures to 39 candidates for a proposed updated damage index.

The revised approach is intended to better reflect today’s understanding of lupus and current standards of care. Researchers are also considering how different types and levels of damage should be weighted so that the index can more accurately capture the long-term impact of the disease.

The updated index is still being developed and tested. The next steps include refining the scoring system and evaluating the revised tool for validity, reliability and responsiveness before it can be considered for broader use.

For people living with lupus, more accurate ways to measure long-term damage could help researchers and healthcare providers better understand disease progression, compare outcomes and improve future care.

For additional information, read the full research summary from the Lupus Foundation of America.

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Artificial intelligence and lupus care researchNews

Artificial Intelligence Shows Promise in the Future of Lupus Care

August 27, 2026

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing many areas of healthcare, and new research suggests it may also have an important role in the future of lupus care.

A 2026 review published in the medical journal Lupus examined current applications of artificial intelligence in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Researchers evaluated how AI and machine-learning technologies are being studied to assist with diagnosis, monitor disease activity, predict flares and organ-specific complications, and potentially help personalize treatment.

Because lupus can affect people differently and symptoms and disease activity can change over time, identifying patterns that may help physicians anticipate changes in a patient’s condition could be particularly valuable. The review found promising developments in areas including flare prediction, cardiovascular risk assessment and the analysis of kidney biopsies related to lupus nephritis.

However, researchers emphasized that significant work remains before these technologies can become part of routine lupus care. Many AI models still require broader validation, greater transparency and testing across more diverse patient populations. The review also reports that no AI tool evaluated for SLE has yet received regulatory clearance.

For people living with lupus, these advances offer an encouraging look at how technology may eventually support earlier detection of changes in disease activity and more individualized care. Continued research will be essential to ensure that these tools are accurate, clinically useful and equitable for the diverse communities affected by lupus.

For additional information, read the full research abstract and publication details on PubMed.

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Bryant Reid Tours The Lowance Center For Human Immunology At Emory

August 31, 2023

Bryant Reid, The Reid Foundation For Lupus Chair, met with Dr. Ignacio Sanz, Emory Division of Rheumatology Director, and Dr. Frances Lee, Emory Department of Medicine Associate Professor at The Lowance Center for Human Immunology.

The purpose of the Lowance Center for Human Immunology is to understand the immunological and molecular mechanisms responsible for human autoimmune, inflammatory, and allergic diseases. The Lowance Center studies both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune response and the mutual regulation of the two components.

According to the Mayo Clinic, lupus is a disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease). Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs. It most often affects people of color, African American, Hispanic, and Asian people.

The importance of the Lowance Center’s research in advancing the understanding of lupus is obvious. The purpose of Mr. Reid’s tour was to provide him with a more in-depth understanding of the scope of work at the Lowance Center and to discuss possible ways The Reid Foundation for Lupus could support or enhance their work.

Dr. Sanz and Dr. Lee provided Mr. Reid with fundamental insights into the depth and scope of lupus research at the Lowance Center. The high ethical standards and transparency of the research at the Center were apparent throughout the tour.
Mentioned was the outstanding work performed by the faculty and in particular Dr. Sam Lim, The Reid Foundation For Lupus Board Member, Drs; Khosroshahi and Williams. Despite its excellent reputation, the Lowrance Center still struggles to find participants to assist them in the research required to understand — or cure –the disease.

The Reid Foundation for Lupus could be an invaluable partner in assisting the Lowance Center in encouraging communities of color to participate in their lupus research studies.

Mr. Reid felt the tour was an important step in building a working relationship between The Reid Foundation for Lupus and other institutions at the forefront of finding effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for lupus.

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News

LUPKYNIS Continues to Show Promising Lupus Nephritis Outcomes

April 23, 2023

The drug treatment, LUPKYNIS® (voclosporin), reduced inflammation and prevented development of kidney damage in people with lupus nephritis (LN, lupus-related kidney disease) over 18 months. Those taking the medication also didn’t exhibit any signs of kidney-related toxicity. LUPKYINS® is a novel, structurally modified calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) that works in two ways – acting as an immunosuppressant through inhibition of T-cell activation and cytokine production, and by promoting podocyte stability in the kidney.

 

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Article Credit: Lupus Foundation of America | lupus.org

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News

New Study Found People with Lupus Have Unique Oral Bacteria

March 1, 2023

February 23, 2022
 

In a new study, researchers found people with lupus have a unique mix of oral bacteria, or “microbiome,” that is correlated with disease activity. The oral microbiome is made up of a collection of more than 700 unique bacterial species, and disturbances in the microbiome have been linked to various inflammatory diseases. The findings from this study suggest that specific oral bacteria found in people with lupus could be used as new, non-invasive lupus biomarkers and may serve as a therapeutic target for exploring new treatment options.
 

The oral microbiome is a collection of bacteria that affects the progression of health and disease. To assess whether oral bacteria diversity is linked to lupus, researchers compared the characteristics of the oral microbiome in people with lupus against a healthy control group. They collected and examined tongue coating samples from 255 people with lupus and 280 controls. Compared to the people without lupus, people with lupus had significantly more diverse oral bacteria present on their tongues. Furthermore, people with lupus had higher and lower levels of certain types of bacteria that were linked to greater disease activity.
 

These findings suggest people with lupus have a unique oral microbiome, which could promote new methods of lupus diagnosis and monitoring. While more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between lupus and the oral microbiome, these findings will help guide future studies. Learn more about oral health issues with lupus.

 

Article Credit: Lupus Foundation of America | lupus.org

 

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