SLE redefined on the basis of molecular pathways

Area of Science:

• Rheumatology and Precision Medicine
• Immunology and Autoimmune Diseases

Background:

• Precision medicine implementation requires adequate patient numbers, material availability, and data integration, posing significant limitations.
• While extensively studied in cancer, precision medicine approaches are nascent in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other rheumatic diseases.
• Clinical utility necessitates considering optimal biological fluids, ease of analysis, and practical relevance for SLE stratification studies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review relevant studies on classifying or stratifying patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
• To focus on studies stratifying diagnosed SLE individuals and comparing SLE with other autoimmune diseases.
• To identify clinically relevant differences and similarities between SLE and other autoimmune conditions.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of studies performing analyses for SLE classification or stratification.
• Analysis of studies stratifying individuals diagnosed with SLE.
• Examination of comparative studies between SLE and other autoimmune diseases.

Main Results:

• Identified limitations in patient recruitment, material acquisition, and data integration for precision medicine in rheumatic diseases.
• Highlighted the scarcity of precision medicine studies in SLE compared to cancer.
• Reviewed approaches to stratify SLE patients and differentiate them from other autoimmune diseases.

Conclusions:

• Precision medicine in SLE is hindered by practical limitations, necessitating careful consideration of study design and biological fluid selection.
• Comparative analyses between SLE and other autoimmune diseases are crucial for uncovering clinically relevant distinctions and commonalities.
• Future research should focus on overcoming implementation barriers to advance precision medicine in SLE and related disorders.