Scrutinizing the Heterogeneity of SLE: Defining Phenotypes

SLE disease course is characterized by unpredictable relapses and remissions in the majority of patients. However, in a small proportion (approximately 5%), SLE presents with a monophasic pattern, meaning that these patients have active disease before and immediately after diagnosis and after some time they achieve prolonged remission (for 12 years on average). Interestingly, about half of these patients do so and require no medications. On the other end of the clinical spectrum, approximately 50% of the patients demonstrate persistent disease activity and usually have the highest risk for developing co-morbidities and irreversible damage. A major goal of clinical research in SLE is to improve disease management based on disease course. By better characterizing SLE disease course we hope to better identify patients early in the disease course for targeted therapies to prevent and or reduce future SLE complications. The overall objective of our project is to define distinct phenotypes of SLE based on disease course, clinical features, pathogenic mechanisms, genetic factors and relevant biomarkers.