| Web: | mayocliniclabs.com |
|---|---|
| Email: | mcl@mayo.edu |
| Telephone: | 800-533-1710 |
| International: | +1 855-379-3115 |
| Values are valid only on day of printing | |
| Web: | mayocliniclabs.com |
|---|---|
| Email: | mcl@mayo.edu |
| Telephone: | 800-533-1710 |
| International: | +1 855-379-3115 |
| Values are valid only on day of printing | |
Six ways innovative lupus tests are transforming patient and clinician experiences
The Lupus Foundation of America estimates that at least five million people worldwide have a form of lupus. Yet, the most widely used laboratory tests for patients with this complex condition were developed more than 60 years ago, and physicians need modern, evidence-based tools to provide high-quality care for their patients. That is why Mayo Clinic Laboratories and Progentec Diagnostics joined forces to provide solutions that transform that experience.
In 2024, they collaborated to make two biomarker blood tests broadly available for the proactive management of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The DX Lupus Disease Activity Index identifies if patients have active disease, and the DX Lupus Flare Risk Index determines the risk of a lupus flare in the next 12 weeks. Following are six ways these tests benefit clinicians and patients.
The results of existing lab tests do not always reflect what patients are experiencing. That is frustrating for patients and the medical teams trying to find solutions for them. These more precise tests objectively validate what a patient is experiencing to help inform the best course of action.
The Lupus Flare Risk Index measures multiple parts of the immune system that are associated with future disease activity to provide a risk assessment that can help prevent flares. For example, in an “Answers From the Lab” podcast, rheumatologist Donald Thomas, M.D., shared how he used the results to reinforce to a patient the importance of managing stress and being consistent with sunscreen and medications. This reinforcement and some additions to the treatment plan helped prevent a flare.
By knowing when a flare might occur, patients and clinicians can better determine appointment cadence. They may decide that fewer appointments are needed, with these tests effectively monitoring disease activity, or they may want to schedule an appointment sooner than originally planned if the tests show an increased risk.
The more precise test results guide physicians and patients to the most effective treatment for each individual. For example, a disease activity test that indicates the absence of current clinically active SLE encourages physicians to explore other causes for a patient’s symptoms. This means patients get the appropriate treatment for the true cause of their symptoms. Or, the test may show an increase in disease activity, indicating the need for biologic therapy or an immunosuppressant.
The tests can also help monitor how patients respond to changes in treatment. This is especially helpful when looking to lower the dosage of lupus treatments, which have significant side effects. Clinicians can lower the treatment dose while continuing to monitor the patient’s immune system, allowing them to determine if it’s necessary to increase the dose again to prevent active disease or disease flare.
The ultimate goal is to prevent permanent organ damage by making it possible to proactively address flares and provide more tailored treatments. Doing so helps reduce damage-causing inflammation and lower the immunosuppressant therapies, preventing the irreversible end-organ damage that increases mortality risk.
Learn more
You can learn more about the tests, how they were created, and how they benefit patients in this “Answers From the Lab” podcast episode with William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories; Bernard Rubin, D.O., MPH, chief medical officer of Progentec Diagnostics; and Melissa Munroe, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer and principal investigator of Progentec Diagnostics.
