Conference Coverage
New classification system for systemic lupus erythematosus moves forward
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Key standards of care
As general standards of care, Dr. Gordon and her coauthors wrote that “lupus patients should be referred to a physician with experience in managing lupus who can confirm the diagnosis, assess the level of disease activity, and provide advice on treatment and monitoring of the disease, its complications, and side effects of therapy.”
Furthermore, a multidisciplinary team approach is needed, and if a treatment is not helping get patients into a state of low disease activity within an expected time frame, “it is important to consider adherence to treatment and adjusting the therapy to reduce the accumulation of chronic damage.” It is also recommended that patients receive personalized advice, written information, and education about the disease and its drug treatment.
No specific funding was received from any organizations in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors to carry out the work described in the guideline.
Dr. Gordon has undertaken consultancies and received honoraria from Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, MedImmune, Merck Serono, Parexel, Roche, and UCB. She has been a member of the speakers bureau for GlaxoSmithKline, UCB, and Eli Lilly. She also has received research grant support from Aspreva/Vifor Pharma in the past and currently receives it from UCB.