Rheumatologists are internists who specialize in the treatment of systemic diseases. The Rheumatology Department of the Cliniques universitaires Saint-Luc has gained an international reputation in this field, particularly in the management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), systemic sclerosis (scleroderma), and idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. The department is officially recognized in Europe through the European Reference Network ReCONNET. We would like to summarize herein some of the recent therapeutic innovations in our fields of excellence
Farah Tamirou, Charlotte Baert, Pauline Montigny, Frédéric A. Houssiau, Emilie Sapart, Aleksandra Avramovska, Laurent Meric de Bellefon, Stéphanie de Montjoye, Stéphanie Dierckx, Adrien Nzeusseu, Valérie Pirson, Tatiana Sokolova, Maria Stoenoiu, Patrick DPublished in the journal : February 2022Category : Rheumatology
The current standard of care for lupus nephritis has so far been based on sequential immunosuppressive therapy aimed to induce a response, called induction therapy, and to prevent relapse, called maintenance therapy. The results of this approach are deemed unsatisfactory, with only 20-30% of complete renal responses observed at 6-12 months, with at least 20% of patients suffering from chronic kidney failure and 5-20% from end-stage kidney disease at 10 years post-diagnosis. Herein, we have briefly discussed two new treatments, consisting of belimumab and voclosporin, recently registered by drug agencies in the aftermath of controlled trials that demonstrated their superiority given in addition to standard immunosuppressive therapy. Further progress in rheumatoid arthritis is being based on further integrating goals, such as monitoring patients' daily symptoms and well managing co-morbidities like cardiovascular disease. An improved understanding of its pathophysiology has enabled translational research designed to develop new therapeutic strategies including numerous targeted biological and synthetic agents.
Farah Tamirou, Frédéric A. HoussiauPublished in the journal : July 2021Category : Rheumatology
While antinuclear autoantibodies (ANA) are commonly searched for, their interpretation is not always easy, especially when requested in front of an atypical clinical picture. Quite often, ANA detection is in fact a chance discovery. This article aimed to review the place of ANA dosage in the clinic, as well as ANA’s meaning depending on the patient's context.
Emilie Sapart1*, Stéphanie Dierckx2*, Tatiana Sokolova1, Aleksandra Avramovska1, Laurent Meric de Bellefon3, Adrien Nzeusseu1, Bernard Lauwerys1, Patrick Durez1Published in the journal : November 2020Category : Rheumatology
Polyarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease of immune origin that is characterized by a synovitis that progressively destroys the joints, which is at times associated with extra-articular manifestations.
This heterogenic rheumatic disease group can cause both structural and functional impairments, in addition to a decrease in patients' quality of life.
A better understanding of the disease's pathophysiology has led to the development of new encouraging therapeutic strategies for managing this disease.
Pauline Montigny (1), Jean-Paul Thissen (2) , Bernard Lauwerys (3), Frédéric Houssiau (3)Published in the journal : September 2019Category : Rheumatology
Glucocorticoids (GC) are used in all medical areas because of their anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive effects. Their undesirable effects are, however, much feared, in particular cortisone-induced myopathy (CD). This condition is characterized by insidious muscle atrophy, exhibiting an important prognostic role. CD is related to the GC-induced imbalance between muscle protein synthesis and degradation, promoting their degradation yet inhibiting their synthesis. We have herein undertaken a review focused on CD’s main pathophysiological mechanisms, along with a discussion on potential targets, such as myostatin, activin receptor Type IIB, TRAF6, and REDD1. To end with, practical recommendations for the fight against CD have been developed, including resistance exercises.
Spondyloarthritis (Spa) is a chronic immune-mediated inflammatory disease characterized by skeletal involvement (axial, an peripheral or both), at times associated with extra-articular manifestations (skin, gut, or eye). This heterogenic rheumatic disease may cause structural and functional impairments, in addition to a decrease in patients' quality of life. A better understanding of the disease's pathophysiology has led to new encouraging therapeutics strategies for managing this disease.
L. Meric de Bellefon, M.S. Stoenoiu, Ch. Galant, A. Avramovska, S. Nieuwland Husson, A. Nzeusseu Toukap, B. Lauwerys, F.A. Houssiau, P. DurezPublished in the journal : February 2016Category : Rheumatology
Over the last years, the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been largely improved owing to the introduction of biologicals. These agents have been developed based on a better understanding of the disease pathophysiology. In the next years, the histopathological and molecular features of the synovial tissue will likely help clinicians better define RA treatment strategies.