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New Advances in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)

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Dear Colleagues,

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by immune-mediated inflammation affecting multiple organs. Due to a wide range of clinical manifestations, early diagnosis remains challenging. Furthermore, no single biomarker is currently available to definitively establish the diagnosis, assess disease activity, or predict disease progression.

Although advances in disease control have led to improved survival over the years, patients with SLE continue to experience higher morbidity and mortality (standardized mortality ratio: 2.66). To improve the prognosis, novel and targeted therapies are actively being developed to minimize disease activity and organ damage, as well as enhance quality of life.

This Special Issue on “New Advances in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)” is now open for submissions. We welcome your contributions focusing on recent progress in the diagnosis and treatment of SLE.

Prof. Dr. Chang-Hee Suh
Guest Editor

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11 pages, 513 KB

Open AccessArticle

Association Between Cardiovascular Risk and Subclinical Atherosclerosis in Korean Female Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

by Ju-Yang Jung, Jaemi Kim, Ji-Hyun Park, Bumhee Park, Ji-Won Kim, Hyoun-Ah Kim and Chang-Hee Suh

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(20), 7162; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14207162 - 11 Oct 2025

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Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This study compared several CV risk scores in Korean female patients with SLE and searched for an association with subclinical atherosclerosis and lipid metabolism. Methods: Female SLE patients and healthy controls (HCs) underwent carotid ultrasonography and pulse wave velocity (PWV), and serum efflux cholesterol capacity was measured. The Framingham risk scores (FRSs), American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) scores, and Korean Risk Prediction Model (KRPM) scores were calculated. Results: While carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and the prevalence of carotid plaque did not differ between 67 SLE patients and 37 HCs, carotid plaque scores were higher in SLE patients compared with HCs. While the FRS and the ACC/AHA CV risk scores did not differ, the KRPM scores were higher in SLE patients. The carotid IMT, plaque score, and PWV were correlated with the FRS, ACC/AHA CV risk, and KRPM score in SLE patients. SLE patients with carotid plaque had higher FRS, ACC/AHA CV risk, and KRPM scores than those without carotid plaque. In addition, the serum cholesterol efflux capacity did not differ between SLE patients with and without carotid plaque but was correlated with carotid IMT. Conclusions: The scores obtained from the CV risk-prediction models were correlated with subclinical atherosclerosis in SLE. A cardiovascular risk assessment tool developed specifically for Koreans is suitable for evaluating the CV risk in Korean SLE patients. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE))

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17 pages, 1612 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

The Effects of Exercise Training on Functional Aerobic Capacity and Quality of Life in Patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

by Virginia Zouganeli, Stavros Dimopoulos, Alexandros Briasoulis, Achilleas Karkamanis, Panagiotis Panagiotopoulos, Eleftherios Karatzanos, Dimitrios T. Boumpas, Ioannis Vasileiadis, Serafim Nanas and Christos Kourek

J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(19), 7031; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14197031 - 4 Oct 2025

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Background/Objectives: Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is associated with impaired functional capacity, persistent fatigue, and poor health-related quality of life despite advances in pharmacological therapy. Exercise training has been proposed as a non-pharmacological intervention, but its efficacy and safety remain incompletely defined. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effects of exercise training on functional aerobic capacity and quality of life in adults with SLE. Methods: A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and PEDro was conducted to identify randomized controlled trials published up to October 2022, in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Results: Twelve randomized controlled trials involving 619 participants were included. Exercise interventions were heterogeneous and comprised aerobics, resistance, combined programs, vibration training, home-based protocols, and counseling strategies, with durations ranging from 6 weeks to 12 months. Supervised aerobic and combined interventions consistently improved functional aerobic capacity, while quality of life benefits were reported across several domains, particularly physical health, vitality, and fatigue. Additional positive effects were observed on fatigue, depression, pain, sleep, insulin sensitivity, and self-care ability, without evidence of increased disease activity. Conclusions: Structured exercise is safe and can meaningfully enhance functional capacity and quality of life in patients with SLE, supporting its incorporation into multidisciplinary clinical management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE))

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