Objectives Associations between BMI and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in SLE have been implied, but data are scarce. We determined the impact of overweight and obesity on HRQoL in a large SLE population. Methods We pooled cross-sectional baseline data from the BLISS-52 (NCT00424476) and BLISS-76 (NCT00410384) trials (N = 1684). HRQoL was evaluated using the 36-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue scale and the European Quality of Life 5-dimension questionnaire (EQ-5D). Comparisons between BMI groups were conducted using the Mann–Whitney U test and adjustments using linear regression. Clinical relevance was determined by minimal clinically important differences (MCIDs). Results In total, 43.2% of the patients had BMI above normal and 17.4% were obese. Overweight and obese patients reported worse SF-36 physical component summary (PCS), physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain and FACIT-Fatigue scores than normal weight patients. Divergences were greater than corresponding MCIDs and more prominent with increasing BMI. Despite no clinically important difference in SF-36 mental component summary scores across BMI categories, patients experienced progressively diminished vitality and social functioning with increasing BMI. In linear regression analysis, BMI above normal and obesity were associated with worse PCS (standardized coefficient β = −0.10, P < 0.001 and β = −0.17, P < 0.001, respectively), FACIT-Fatigue (β = −0.11, P < 0.001 and β = −0.16, P < 0.001) and EQ-5D (β = −0.08, P = 0.001 and β = −0.12, P < 0.001) scores, independently of demographic and disease-related factors. The impact of BMI on the PCS and FACIT-Fatigue was more pronounced than that of SLE activity. Conclusion Patients with SLE and BMI above normal experienced clinically important HRQoL diminutions in physical aspects, fatigue and social functioning. A survey of potential causality underlying this association is warranted.

We investigated whether belimumab treatment impacts on levels of autoantibodies and cytokines of interest in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Longitudinally collected serum samples from 78 belimumab-treated Swedish SLE patients were analysed. Serum cytokine levels were determined using Luminex xMAP technology, and nuclear antigen autoantibody specificities using addressable laser bead immunoassay. In patients with detectable levels at baseline, interferon (IFN)-α2 levels were lower at month 6 (median; interquartile range (IQR): 8.9; 1.5–54.9 pg/mL) versus baseline (28.4; 20.9–100.3 pg/mL; p = 0.043). Interleukin (IL)-6 (baseline: 7.1; 2.9–16.1 pg/mL) decreased from month 6 (0.5; 0.5–6.3 pg/mL; p = 0.018) and throughout a 24 month follow-up. IL-10 (baseline: 12.6; 2.8–29.7 pg/mL) showed more rapid decreases from month 3 (1.8; 0.6–9.1 pg/mL; p = 0.003). Levels of anti-dsDNA (p < 0.001), anti-Smith antigen (Sm) (p = 0.002), anti-U1 small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (U1RNP) (p < 0.001), anti-Sm-U1RNP complex (p = 0.028), and anti-ribosomal P (p = 0.012) antibodies decreased from month 3 and remained decreased. Anti-Sm positivity at baseline was associated with higher probability and/or shorter time to achieve sustained SLE responder index-4 response (hazard ratio (HR): 2.52; 95% CI: 1.20–5.29; p = 0.015), independently of other factors. Decline of IL-6 levels through month 3 was greater in responders. In summary, belimumab treatment lowered IFN-α2, IL-6, and IL-10 levels, as well as levels of multiple autoantibodies, however after different time spans. Notably, anti-Sm positivity and early decline in IL-6 levels were associated with favorable treatment outcome.

Impaired health-related quality of life (HRQoL) is a major problem in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Antimalarial agents (AMA) are the cornerstone of SLE therapy, but data on their impact on HRQoL are scarce. We investigated this impact using baseline data from the BLISS-52 (NCT00424476) and BLISS-76 (NCT00410384) trials (n = 1684). HRQoL was self-reported using the Medical Outcomes Study short-form 36 (SF-36), functional assessment of chronic illness therapy (FACIT)-Fatigue and 3-level EuroQoL 5-Dimension (EQ-5D) questionnaires. Patients on AMA (n = 1098/1684) performed better with regard to SF-36 physical component summary, physical functioning, role physical, bodily pain, FACIT-Fatigue, EQ-5D utility index and EQ-5D visual analogue scale scores. The difference in SF-36 physical functioning (mean ± standard deviation (SD): 61.1 ± 24.9 versus 55.0 ± 26.5; p < 0.001) exceeded the minimal clinically important difference (≥5.0). This association remained significant after adjustment for potential confounding factors in linear regression models (standardised coefficient, β = 0.07; p = 0.002). Greater proportions of AMA users than non-users reported no problems in the mobility, self-care, usual activities and anxiety/depression EQ-5D dimensions. AMA use was particularly associated with favourable HRQoL in physical aspects among patients with active mucocutaneous and musculoskeletal disease, and mental aspects among patients with active renal SLE. These results provide support in motivating adherence to AMA therapy. Exploration of causality in the relationship between AMA use and favourable HRQoL in SLE has merit.