A recent study from Brazil suggests lupus nephritis patients who receive renal transplant have a high five-year survival rate. Researchers found the presence of venous thrombosis and antiphospholipid syndrome, but not viral infection, were important predictors of renal graft loss in these patients…
Canakinumab Treatment Effective for Familial Mediterranean Fever
Canakinumab may be a useful first-line treatment for renal transplant recipients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF), according to recent research. Immunosuppressive drugs can interact with colchicine, the standard first-line treatment for FMF, and increase the incidence of side effects, such as diarrhea and myopathy…
The Pop Star Effect & Lupus: Celebrity Cred May Help Raise Awareness of Rheumatic Disease
This year, Selena Gomez underwent a kidney transplant as a result of damage from living with lupus. But how can this celebrity story aid rheumatologists? Many see it as an opportunity to raise awareness or create a dialogue with primary care physicians. But for lupus patients, it can be a reminder for them to take control of their own wellbeing, according to rheumatologist Susan Manzi, MD, MPH…