Adults with lupus are at increased risk for developing cardiovascular disease as compared to the general population. Increased levels of blood cholesterol can result in atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, which is itself a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Previous studies indicate that subclinical atherosclerosis may be present in children with lupus. Since atherosclerosis is now known to begin in childhood, even in healthy people, the risk of developing atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease has become a growing concern for the health of children with lupus. This study examined the safety and efficacy of atorvastatin (Lipitor®), a cholesterol-lowering drug, in children with lupus over a three-year period. The results suggest that lipid-lowering drugs like atorvastatin can safely and effectively reduce cholesterol levels in children with lupus. However, the effects of this treatment regimen do not warrant administration of lipid-lowering drugs to all children with lupus and future studies may indicate specific subpopulations that could benefit most.
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It’s day 4 of the American College of Rheumatology’s Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago! There is no stopping Dario and Jenny as they bring us the latest in lupus research and updates. There have been many exciting announcements including results from a LFA initiative studying the effect of background medication in clinical trials for lupus treatments, which may provide needed insight on patient response and help create pathways forward for the development of new treatments.

In addition, Dr. S. Sam Lim from Emory University School of Medicine will present in a new study this afternoon regarding the number of people with lupus in the United States. The data indicates that overall prevalence of lupus in this population is higher than seen in previous studies, suggesting longer survival and/or more frequent diagnosis of lupus. According to Dr. Lim, lupus continues to affect significant numbers of people across racial and ethnic lines, but with a disproportionate burden on black women. Results from this study provide additional and more accurate evidence that lupus is a significant and complex disease. You can read more about it here and follow along with us on Twitter as we live-tweet the session.

Hope you all are enjoying the updates. Let us know if you have any questions and I will be sure to pass them on to our team in Chicago!