Lupus Science and Medicine Podcast

In this episode of the Lupus Foundation of America podcast, Jaren Crump sits down with Dr. Luís Inês, rheumatologist and President of the European Lupus Society, about new research that could change how doctors understand and treat severe lupus. Dr. Inês explains how an evaluation tool known as SLE-DAS, makes it easier for clinicians to measure severe lupus disease activity — and why that matters for improving treatment decisions, quality of life, and long-term health. Read the paper published in LSM: https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2025-001499

In this episode of the Lupus Science and Medicine Podcast, host Dr. Anna Wolska speaks with Dr. Amerie Grammer about how genetic breakthroughs are paving the way for personalized lupus care. Researchers have identified distinct “genetic endotypes,” patterns of gene activity that explain why lupus affects people differently, including symptoms like kidney disease. These insights could one day enable more precise, targeted treatments. Tune in as we unpack what genetic endotypes are, what they reveal about lupus, and how this research brings us closer to truly individualized care for everyone living with the disease. Read the paper published in LSM: https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2025-001526

In this podcast, Dr. Anna Wolska sits down with Dr. Eric Morand to discuss a groundbreaking effort to improve how lupus treatment success is measured in clinical trials. Dr. Morand explains why existing tools weren’t designed for tracking treatment response and describes a rigorous, patient-inclusive Delphi process that narrowed dozens of possible disease aspects down to eight meaningful domains. By involving patients at every step, the new measure focuses on what patients truly feel and function. Early work on defining precise assessments for each domain is underway, with practical use in trials expected by 2026, promising clearer results and faster access to new lupus therapies. Read the paper published in LSM - https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2024-001484

Lupus nephritis, affecting nearly half of lupus patients, can cause severe kidney damage. Traditionally, high-dose glucocorticoids (~1 mg per kg prednisone) have been used despite significant side effects. In this episode, host Anna Wolska speaks with Dr. Amit Saxena, a rheumatologist and Associate Professor at NYU Langone Health, about his recent research on the use of glucocorticoids in treating kidney disease in lupus. His study pooled standard-of-care arms from several major clinical trials to compare the efficacy and safety of lower versus higher oral glucocorticoid doses—administered after an initial IV steroid pulse—in treating lupus nephritis. Read the article published in LSM - https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2024-001351

Join Dr. Anna Wolska from the Lupus Foundation of America as she talks with Dr. Jim Oates about his recently published study in Lupus Science & Medicine on validating claims-based algorithms in Medicare data to identify SLE and lupus nephritis. Dr. Oates explains how ICD-10 coding and geospatial analysis (via the Lupus Index) can help pinpoint disparities, guide clinical trial recruitment, and reveal how location affects patient outcomes. The conversation covers the varying sensitivity and specificity of different coding algorithms, potential racial differences, and how overlaying socioeconomic and environmental data can shed light on lupus prevalence and improve healthcare resource allocation. Read the article published in LSM - https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2024-001329

Early reduction in proteinuria is a key predictor of improved long-term kidney health in lupus nephritis (LN). In this episode, Dr. Anna Wolska from the Lupus Foundation of America speaks with Drs. Maria Dall'Era and Anca Askanase about a new propensity analysis comparing voclosporin-based triple immunosuppressive therapy to traditional high-dose glucocorticoid regimens. They discuss findings from the AURA-LV and AURORA 1 studies, highlighting the safety benefits and earlier proteinuria reduction seen with voclosporin. Tune in to explore how these insights may shape LN treatment guidelines and improve patient outcomes. Read the paper published in LSM: https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2024-001319

Join Dr. Anna Wolska and Dr. Jordan Roberts, a pediatric rheumatologist, as they explore the use of Rituximab in treating childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). They discuss key factors for healthcare providers when prescribing Rituximab to children and adolescents, especially for severe cases like lupus nephritis and CNS involvement. Dr. Roberts presents recent research on Rituximab’s safety, highlighting increased infection risks and the need for targeted prevention strategies. Tune in for expert insights on the latest advancements, challenges, and future directions in pediatric lupus treatment. Read the paper published in LSM - https://doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2024-001210

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

Dr. Anna Wolska sits down with experts, Dr. Michelle Petri and Dr. Nick Ballew, analyzing the effectiveness of SLE treatments Belimumab and Anifrolumab. The conversation delves into their meticulous study, where they examined the 52-week SLE Responder Index (SRI)-4 responses, providing crucial data for informed lupus patient care. The study data, based on rigorous randomized trials and systematic literature reviews, offers clinicians invaluable insights into treatment decisions for people living with lupus. Read the published article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2023-000907

Dr. Anna Wolska from the Lupus Foundation of America interviews Drs. Ana Malvar and Brad Rovin. They discuss using repeat tissue biopsies to understand progression of lupus nephritis over time. They offer conjecture that both immunosuppression as well as mitigation of tissue fibrosis, resulting from inflammatory resolution, are needed in order to preserve kidney function and prevent progression to kidney failure. Read the related article - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2023-000932

Dr. Anna Wolska from the Lupus Foundation of America interviews Drs. Anca Askanase and Joan Merrill, the developers of the LFA-REAL tool. Together, they discuss the importance of using a tool like LFA-REAL to understand how clinician and patient reported outcomes are essential for understanding efficacy and effectiveness of experimental therapeutics developed to treat people living with lupus. Read the article: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/lupus-2022-000875