for systemic lupus erythematosus. The trial results presented at EULAR suggest that baricitinib could be beneficial in the treatment of lupus nephritis, further establishing the role of JAK inhibitors in autoimmune disease therapy."Lupus nephritis typically develops within 5 years of initial lupus symptoms," said Hassanien, of the Rheumatology Research and Advanced Therapeutics Department at Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.
The study’s primary endpoint of 24-hour proteinuria response rate at week 12 was significantly greater with baricitinib 4 mg daily, compared with monthly cyclophosphamide infusions at 0.7 mg/m in the baricitinib group and one patient in the cyclophosphamide group were affected. The researchers recorded no major adverse cardiovascular or venous thromboembolic events, which are known to occur at higher rates among some users of baricitinib and other JAK inhibitors.
"The primary endpoint is limited at proteinuria, while biopsy is considered the gold standard for measuring efficacy," said Eric F. Morand, MD, head of the Monash Health Rheumatology Unit, Melbourne, Australia. This was not the only critical comment regarding the study that emerged during the discussion. The use of a 4-mg dosage regimen throughout the entire study duration and the positive outcomes observed in the control group treated with cyclophosphamide were also mentioned.
Hassanien acknowledged that this is a small and relatively short study and disclosed plans to extend the follow-up period to 1 year and conduct a renal biopsy.European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology 2023 Annual Meeting: