In this episode of the Lupus Science and Medicine podcast, Dr. Megan Clowse, a rheumatologist at Duke University, discusses her research on contraceptive practices in women with lupus. Drawing from the RISE Registry, Dr. Clowse explores the alignment of contraception use with 2020 ACR guidelines, uncovering gaps in documentation and prescription practices. The conversation highlights the importance of reproductive health planning, the various birth control options for women with lupus, and the need for improved patient-doctor communication to ensure safe and effective family planning. Tune in to learn more about the findings and their implications for clinical care.

Read the related paper published in LSM: https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2024-001192

Join host Dr. Anna Wolska as she explores a new study in Lupus Science & Medicine on how positive psychosocial factors—such as resilience, self-efficacy, and emotional support—can reduce stress in people with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In this episode, she speaks with Drs. Kimberly DeQuattro and Sarah Patterson about these factors' protective effects, even for those with trauma histories, and discusses the study's implications for patient care and how enhancing these factors can improve outcomes in lupus management.

Read the paper published in LSM: https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2023-001060

Join Dr. Anna Wloska from the Lupus foundation of America and Drs. Peter Lipsky and Amerie Grammer as they discuss the effectivenss of krill oil in reducing disease activity in systemic lupus erythematosus. In this episode, our guest highlight the potential therapeutic benefits of restoring omega-3 fatty acids in patients with SLE and the potency and efficacy of omegga-3s found in krill oil versus other sources.

Read the paper published in LSM - https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2024-001201

Join Dr. Anna Wolska from the Lupus Foundation of America and Dr. Laurent Arnaud, Professor of Rheumatology at the Department of Rheumatology, University Hospitals of Strasbourg as they discuss systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) clinical trials. In this episode, Dr. Arnaud highlights the complexities of drug approval processes in lupus, the pivotal role of large-scale phase three randomized trials and critical outcome measures in these trials, from primary endpoints assessing treatment efficacy to secondary and exploratory measures capturing broader impacts on patient health and quality of life.

Read the article: https://lupus.bmj.com/content/11/1/e001114

Join Dr. Anna Wolska from the Lupus Foundation of America as she delves into a groundbreaking discussion with Dr. Stephen Balevic focused on hydroxychloroquine blood levels and understanding medication adherence in lupus patients. In this episode, Dr. Balevic, a rheumatologist and clinical pharmacologist from Duke University, explains the nuances of interpreting hydroxychloroquine levels, the challenges of ensuring patient adherence, and the implications for clinical practice. Discover the latest insights on optimizing lupus treatment and learn about an innovative algorithm to improve adherence monitoring.

Read the related paper: https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2023-001090

Join Dr. Anna Wolska and Dr. May Choi as they explore the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in guiding diagnostic and care decisions for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Dr. Choi delves into key elements of machine learning and its potential impact on improving outcomes, particularly in underserved populations. She also discusses various types of machine learning, such as deep learning, supervised learning, and unsupervised learning, highlighting their respective contributions to enhancing efficiencies within clinical care settings.

Read the related Review published in LSM: https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2023-001140

Join Dr. Anna Wolska and Dr. Jim Posada as they delve into the intricacies of RNAse therapy in the management of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE). In this podcast episode, Dr. Posada describes the groundbreaking study evaluating the efficacy of RSLV-132, a novel RNAse molecule fused to human IgG1 Fc, in reducing chronic inflammation associated with cutaneous lupus. Key findings from the clinical trial reveal that patients with moderate to severe cutaneous disease activity were administered RSLV-132 over a span of six months. Disease activity was evaluated using the Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI) score and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index 2000 (SLEDAI-2K). These findings suggest that RNAse therapy may be effective in patients with higher disease activity.

Read the related paper in LSM - https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2023-001113

Dr. Anna Wolska engages in a conversation with Dr. Shivani Garg and Dr. Christie Bartels to delve into the development and implementation of HCQ-SAFE. This innovative decision-aid is designed to empower individuals living with lupus to engage in shared-decision making. The authors discuss the importance of streamlining and enhancing shared decision-making dynamics between patients and healthcare providers regarding the utilization of hydroxychloroquine, a cornerstone therapy in lupus. The tool can be accessed through the following link: http://hcqsafe.medicine.wisc.edu/

Read the article: https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2023-000935

Dr. Anna Wolska speaks to Dr. Michael Belmont and Devyn Zaminski to discuss the importance of dual dsDNA testing in order to full understand disease activity. In this study, they made the observation that there is a large amount of discordance in anti-dsDNA antibodies assays. Misinterpretation or errors in anti- dsDNA antibody testing could have negative implications on long term outcomes in people living with SLE.

Read the related paper - https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2023-001012

Dr. Anna Wolska engages in a discussion with renowned experts, Dr. Catharina Lindholm and Dr. David Jayne, to explore findings from the phase II TULIP Lupus Nephritis trial. This in-depth conversation centers on results from a clinical trial where they evaluated the efficacy of intensified anifrolumab treatment in individuals with active lupus nephritis.

Read the article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2023-000910