Methods of treating and monitoring systemic lupus erythematosus in individuals

Abstract

The invention provides methods for treating SLE including renal SLE and methods of reducing risk of renal flare in individuals with SLE, and methods of monitoring such treatment. One method of treating SLE including renal SLE and reducing risk of renal flare in an individual with SLE involves the administration of an effective amount of an agent for reducing the level of anti-dsDNA antibody (such as a dsDNA epitope as in the form of an epitope-presenting carrier or an epitope-presenting valency platform molecule like LJP 394) to the individual. The invention further provides a method of treating renal flare and reducing risk of renal flare in an individual with SLE involving the reduction of the level of circulating anti-dsDNA antibodies in the individual and maintaining sustained reduction of circulating anti-dsDNA antibodies, optionally through administration of a dsDNA epitope to the individual.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.