Towards development of treat to target (T2T) in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: PReS-endorsed overarching principles and points-to-consider from an international task force.

OBJECTIVES: Application of 'treat-to-target' (T2T) in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) may improve care and health outcomes. This initiative aimed to harmonise existing evidence and expert opinion regarding T2T for cSLE. METHODS: An international T2T Task Force was formed of specialists in paediatric rheumatology, paediatric nephrology, adult rheumatology, patient and parent representatives. A steering committee formulated a set of draft overarching principles and points-to-consider, based on evidence from systematic literature review. Two on-line preconsensus meeting Delphi surveys explored healthcare professionals' views on these provisional overarching principles and points-to-consider. A virtual consensus meeting employed a modified nominal group technique to discuss, modify and vote on each overarching principle/point-to-consider. Agreement of >80% of Task Force members was considered consensus. RESULTS: The Task Force agreed on four overarching principles and fourteen points-to-consider. It was agreed that both treatment targets and therapeutic strategies should be subject to shared decision making with the patient/caregivers, with full remission the preferred target, and low disease activity acceptable where remission cannot be achieved. Important elements of the points-to-consider included: aiming for prevention of flare and organ damage; glucocorticoid sparing; proactively addressing factors that impact health-related quality of life (fatigue, pain, mental health, educational challenges, medication side effects); and aiming for maintenance of the target over the long-term. An extensive research agenda was also formulated. CONCLUSIONS: These international, consensus agreed overarching principles and points-to-consider for T2T in cSLE lay the foundation for future T2T approaches in cSLE, endorsed by the Paediatric Rheumatology European Society.

What Have We Learnt About the Treatment of Juvenile-Onset Systemic Lupus Erythematous Since Development of the SHARE Recommendations 2012?

Introduction: Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematous (JSLE) is a rare multisystem autoimmune disorder. In 2012, the Single Hub and Access point for pediatric Rheumatology in Europe (SHARE) initiative developed recommendations for the diagnosis/management of JSLE, lupus nephritis (LN) and childhood-onset anti-phospholipid syndrome (APS). These recommendations were based upon available evidence informing international expert consensus meetings. Objective: To review new evidence published since 2012 relating to the management of JSLE, LN and APS in children, since the original literature searches informing the SHARE recommendations were performed. Method: MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL were systematically searched for relevant literature (2012-2021) using the following criteria: (1) English language studies; (2) original research studies regarding management of JSLE, LN, APS in children; (3) adult studies with 3 or more patients <18-years old, or where the lower limit of age range ≤16-years and the mean/median age is ≤30-years; (4) randomized controlled trials (RCTs), cohort studies, case control studies, observational studies, case-series with >3 patients. Three reviewers independently screened all titles/abstracts against predefined inclusion/exclusion criteria. All relevant manuscripts were reviewed independently by at least two reviewers. Data extraction, assessment of the level of evidence/methodological quality of the manuscripts was undertaken in-line with the original SHARE processes. Specific PUBMED literature searches were also performed to identify new evidence relating to each existing SHARE treatment recommendation. Results: Six publications met the inclusion/exclusion criteria for JSLE: three RCTs, one feasibility trial, one case series. For LN, 16 publications met the inclusion/exclusion criteria: eight randomized trials, three open label prospective clinical trials, five observational/cohort studies. For APS, no publications met the inclusion criteria. The study with the highest evidence was an RCT comparing belimumab vs. placebo, including 93 JSLE patients. Whilst the primary-endpoint was not met, a significantly higher proportion of belimumab-treated patients met the PRINTO/ACR cSLE response to therapy criteria. New evidence specifically addressing each SHARE recommendation remains limited. Conclusion: Since the original SHARE literature searches, undertaken >10-years ago, the main advance in JSLE treatment evidence relates to belimumab. Additional studies are urgently needed to test new/existing agents, and assess their long-term safety profile in JSLE, to facilitate evidence-based practice.

Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: Update on clinical presentation, pathophysiology and treatment options.

Juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (jSLE) accounts for up to 20% of all SLE patients. Key differences between juvenile- and adult-onset (aSLE) disease include higher disease activity, earlier development of damage, and increased use of immunosuppressive treatment in jSLE suggesting (at least partial) infectivity secondary to variable pathomechanisms. While the exact pathophysiology of jSLE remains unclear, genetic factors, immune complex deposition, complement activation, hormonal factors and immune cell dysregulation are involved to variable extents, promising future patient stratification based on immune phenotypes. Though less effective and potentially toxic, jSLE patients are treated based upon evidence from studies in aSLE cohorts. Here, age-specific clinical features of jSLE, underlying pathomechanisms, treatment options and disease outcomes will be addressed. Future directions to improve the care of jSLE patients, including implementation of the Single Hub and Access point for pediatric Rheumatology in Europe (SHARE) recommendations, biomarkers, treat to target and personalized medicine approaches are discussed.

International validation of a urinary biomarker panel for identification of active lupus nephritis in children.

BACKGROUND: Conventional markers of juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (JSLE) disease activity fail to adequately identify lupus nephritis (LN). While individual novel urine biomarkers are good at detecting LN flares, biomarker panels may improve diagnostic accuracy. The aim of this study was to assess the performance of a biomarker panel to identify active LN in two international JSLE cohorts. METHODS: Novel urinary biomarkers, namely vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), lipocalin-like prostaglandin D synthase (LPGDS), transferrin (TF), ceruloplasmin, alpha-1-acid glycoprotein (AGP) and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), were quantified in a cross-sectional study that included participants of the UK JSLE Cohort Study (Cohort 1) and validated within the Einstein Lupus Cohort (Cohort 2). Binary logistic regression modelling and receiver operating characteristic curve analysis [area under the curve (AUC)] were used to identify and assess combinations of biomarkers for diagnostic accuracy. RESULTS: A total of 91 JSLE patients were recruited across both cohorts, of whom 31 (34 %) had active LN and 60 (66 %) had no LN. Urinary AGP, ceruloplasmin, VCAM-1, MCP-1 and LPGDS levels were significantly higher in those patients with active LN than in non-LN patients [all corrected p values (p c) < 0.05] across both cohorts. Urinary TF also differed between patient groups in Cohort 2 (p c = 0.001). Within Cohort 1, the optimal biomarker panel included AGP, ceruloplasmin, LPGDS and TF (AUC 0.920 for active LN identification). These results were validated in Cohort 2, with the same markers resulting in the optimal urine biomarker panel (AUC 0.991). CONCLUSION: In two international JSLE cohorts, urinary AGP, ceruloplasmin, LPGDS and TF demonstrate an 'excellent' ability for accurately identifying active LN in children.