New lupus research has advanced our understanding of lupus and has helped discover new treatments for the disease.

In the first diagnostic breakthrough in 40 years, lupus research has resulted in a new screening test for systemic lupus erythematosus that will help diagnose 20% more cases of SLE.

Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago was the first to do a stem cell transplant in the treatment of lupus. This lupus research is showing promise in treating patients who do not respond to current treatments.

Lupus research on autoimmunity using mice is being done on signal pathways of the Fas gene and its inhibitor cFLIP.

New lupus research has been done which has identified new information about BAFF(B cell activation factor) and BAFF-r (the receptor protein). BAFF is a key protein in the development of lymphocytes and BAFF-r is a key target associated with abnormal B lymphocyte activity.

Discover Lupus Relief

Human Genome Sciences is doing lupus research on the B Lymphocyte Stimulator (BLyS) which may be a sensitive marker of lupus disease. The drug, LymphoStat-B, is in the first phase of trials and works by binding to BLyS and inhibiting stimulation of B cell development and proliferation.

At the present time, lupus research is focusing on trying to find the answers to the following questions:

• How can the malfunctioning immune system be repaired?

• Why do certain ethnic and racial groups more likely to get lupus?

• Why are more women than men stricken with lupus?

• Who are the people that get lupus and why do they get it?

• What is the best way to treat the symptoms of lupus?

• What goes wrong with the immune system and why does it go wrong?

• What are the genes that predispose a person to lupus?

Help Your Body Heal Itself

The new research studies on lupus include: A study using mice to discover genes that cause neurological symptoms of lupus so that targeted therapies can be developed; a study on the mechanism of brain dysfunction in SLE; a study on cognitive dysfunction in neuropsychiatric SLE which will suggest new treatment targets; a study on cognitive dysfunction and biological changes in patients with lupus who have neuropsychiatric symptoms ; and a study using mice on the mechanisms that cause cell death in the brain of the mice with lupus neuropsychiatric symptoms and a study of how the malfunctioning nervous system affects behavior.

Many research studies are being done on lupus which will increase our understanding of the disease, improve treatments and possibly lead to a cure in the future. Much more lupus research still needs to be done, however, and it cannot go forward without adequate funding so people should be sure to write to their congressmen telling them to fund lupus research.

Eliminate Lupus Pain and start leading a more productive healthy life -- with natural, complimentary supplements for lupus relief!