Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease. It harms the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, nervous system, and the serous membranes (Specchia et al, 2014, p.1). The symptoms in patients most commonly involve a mixture of skin conditions that affect one’s muscles, bones, and joints. Furthermore, SLE can have blood and blood serum symptoms. Women are more commonly affected than men, and the disease is diagnosed in patients aged 15 to 45 (Phung, 2011, p.118). SLE has no cure, but there are medicines and treatments that can help control it. Current medicines available to give to a person who has symptoms limited to one specific organ of the body. They include high doses …show more content…
Patients who had received the belimumab had a longer time before a flare occurred. This result may have suggested belimumab stabilized the disease. During the phase two trial, the study evaluated outcomes in a serum and a blood serum sub group. Within this subgroup at 52 weeks, patients in the belimumab had greater reductions in SELENA-SLEDAI score and improvements in PGA scores (Phung, 2011, p.127).
Phase three clinical trial was comparing two doses of belimumab in patients with SLE for 52 weeks. Before patients were allowed to be a part of the trial, they had to meet certain requirements. Patients had to have a base line SELLENA_SLEDAI score less than or equal to six. They also had to have care therapy for at 30 days prior to entering the study.
During phase three, patients were either assigned a one or ten mg/kg of belimumab or placebo in addition to their regular treatment plan. The drug was given through an IV at days Zero ,14, 28, and then every day 28 days through week 48. The final results were conducted at week 52. A four-point improvement was seen in SELENA_SLEDAI and mean changes in PGA (Phung, 2011, p. 129). The treatment was 72 weeks long. Overall, there was no organ flares or worsening