Texas, USA (CU)_ The most prevalent side effect of the autoimmune disease lupus is lupus nephritis. The popular actress and artist Selena Gomez had a kidney transplant as a result of the disease, which created public awareness of the ailment. Scientists now claim that there are potential new medications that can stop kidney deterioration with less severe side effects, after years of no progressive treatments.
Diana Yeauger Espinoza was working to pay for college and was newly engaged four years ago when she gained 25 pounds all of a sudden. Diana said, “I was working two jobs and I figured that the weight gain was due to the fact that I wasn’t at home. I was eating fast food”. Her legs were swollen and her heart rate rose following her shift at a neighborhood garden center. Diana was admitted to the hospital after her kidneys failed. Her condition was diagnosed as lupus nephritis by the doctors.
Brad H. Rovin, MD, nephrologist and director of the division of nephrology at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, said, “The treatment of lupus basically is to use fairly strong therapies that are effective but are associated with lots and lots of potential side effects”.
Dr. Rovin was investigating other innovative treatments for the disease. Diana joined in a clinical trial for the medicine Lupkynis. It is a unique oral drug that is administered to patients alongside the other treatments. According to Dr. Rovin, a second medicine named Benlysta has also been licensed by the FDA for lupus nephritis treatment. Dr. Rovin said, “We now have a whole menu of new drugs that are being tested in lupus that are very exciting”.
Diana claims that her kidney function has recovered and improved to a greater extent after taking Lupkynis for two years and that she is in terrific spirits now and has recently married. Diana shared her experience. She said, “Just live a normal life, not have to worry about all these medications I have to take, not having to worry that I can’t go up a flight of stairs because my knee hurts”.
According to CDC data, compared to the white women, Asian and Hispanic women have more chances to be impacted by the disease. Lupkynis was authorized by the FDA in January, and Benlysta received FDA approval in December 2020.
