1. EULAR Lupus Nephritis Trials Network Study Group 2017
The mission of the Lupus Nephritis Trials Network (LNTN) is to improve outcomes for patients with lupus nephritis through i): the conduct of clinical trials designed to prevent chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney failure; and ii): the development of clinical trial methodologies that improve and simplify the assessment of therapeutic agents.
The network involves 202 members across 40 countries (106 European section and 96 American/Asian section)
Project 1 - Outcome measures in lupus nephritis trials to identify early prognostic markers of long-term outcome via trial data, real life cohorts and a prospective registry (Dall’Era M et al., Arthritis Rheumatol 2015; 67: 1305; Tamirou F et al., Lupus Sci Med 2015; 2: e000123)
Project 2 – CALIBRATE trial to study autoreactive B cell reconstitution after rituximab, cyclophosphamide and steroids, alone or followed by belimumab (15 US sites; enrollment target 40 reached; trial conducted by the ITN)
Project 3 – RING to study rituximab in refractory lupus nephritis (across 10 countries)