Chaim Putterman MD

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a prototypical systemic autoimmune disease, characterized by the presence of numerous autoantibodies and involvement of multiple organ systems. Inflammation of the kidneys, or lupus nephritis, appears in up to 50% of lupus patients during the course of their disease. Despite medical treatment, morbidity and mortality from renal disease are all too common in lupus patients, with reports of 5-year renal survival ranging from 46-95%. Overall increases in the incidence of lupus and in the number of deaths from the disease reported in the United States are additional reasons for significant concern for clinicians and researchers alike. Unfortunately, major strides forward in understanding lupus and the advent of newer “biologic” therapies in the field of Rheumatology have yet to translate into measurable benefits for the majority of patients with SLE. Current treatments, while effective, only control disease activity but are not curative. Furthermore, therapeutic modalities that are employed at this time for the treatment of patients with lupus are non-specific – and commonly affect normal cells that are essential for the defense against foreign pathogens, in addition to suppressing the disease-relevant autoreactive B cells. Nevertheless, early diagnosis and prompt treatment can still significantly improve long-term prognosis.