Exclusive: ACR Convergence 2024| Focus Rheums

An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

Experts Discuss Blood Disorders Commonly Seen in Lupus Patients

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ACR CONVERGENCE 2021—Hematologic abnormalities are common in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), whether due to SLE itself or something else. As rheumatology professionals, we are routinely challenged by the management of cytopenias in our SLE patients. At the ACR’s annual meeting in 2021, two hematologists shared expert advice regarding common hematologic manifestations of SLE. Michael B….

The Great Debate: Belimumab vs. Voclosporin in Lupus Nephritis

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ACR Convergence 2021—The Great Debate at the meeting sparked a thoughtful discussion on the future of lupus nephritis treatment strategies, with experts saying clinicians should be open to new ways of approaching patient care. In the past year, approvals of the monoclonal antibody belimumab and the calcineurin inhibitor voclosporin for use in lupus nephritis (when…

Regressed germinal center with follicular dendritic cell prominence (star), onion-skinning (blue arrowhead) and increased vascularity (orange arrows) are seen.

Case Report: Is It Castleman Disease, or Castleman-Like?

Philip Chu, MD, RhMSUS, Mithu Maheswaranathan, MD, Jadee L. Neff, MD, PhD, & Rebecca E. Sadun, MD, PhD  |  

The difference between Castle­man disease and Castleman-like disease may be subtle, but it comes with significant ramifications. Case Presentation This case involves a pregnant 19-year-old woman who presents over multiple hospitalizations with concerns for systemic lupus erythematosus and macrophage activation syndrome. At 36 weeks’ gestation, the patient’s weight had dropped from 215 lbs. to 170…

Rituximab for Children with Lupus Nephritis

Lorraine L. Janeczko  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Pediatric rheumatologists and nephrologists appear to differ in their treatment choices for children who have lupus nephritis (LN), with rheumatologists more likely to prescribe rituximab, results of a small survey suggest. “This study highlights the importance of collaborative effort in developing CTPs (Consensus Treatment Plans) for pediatric LN,” the authors write in…

Case Report: Drug-Induced Lupus

Haseeb Chaudhary, MD, Prem Parajuli, MD, & Devy Setyono, MD  |  

The incidence of drug-induced lupus continues to rise as clinicians expand their therapeutic armamentarium. An estimated 15,000–30,000 cases of drug-induced lupus occur every year in the U.S. alone.1 It is a well-known, but rare, complication of commonly used medications, such as anti-hypertensive, anti-arrhythmic and anti-epileptic drugs, as well as biologic and immune checkpoint therapies.2,3 The…