Effectiveness of Belimumab in the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and Its Impact on Improving the Quality of Life of Patients

Abstract

Objective: To analyze the efficacy of belimumab in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its effect on improving the quality of life of Chinese patients. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted using the medical records of 52 SLE patients admitted between March 2021 and April 2022. These patients were divided into two groups: the control group and the monoclonal antibody group, with 26 cases in each group. Patients in the control group received standard SLE treatment, while those in the monoclonal antibody group received standard SLE treatment in addition to belimumab therapy. The clinical treatment effect, dosage of hormone drugs, SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI) score, peripheral blood B cell level, 36-item Short Form health survey questionnaire (SF-36) and adverse reactions before and after treatment were compared between the two groups. Results: The routine treatment plus belimumab resulted in higher efficacy than routine treatment alone (p < 0.05). The routine treatment plus belimumab led to a lower B cell as compared to the routine treatment alone (p < 0.05). The routine treatment plus belimumab was associated with higher quality of life (p < 0.05). The safety profiles of the two groups were similar (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Belimumab might be a viable strategy in the treatment of Chinese patients with SLE. Belimumab can significantly reduce the dosage of hormone drugs in patients, and effectively reduce the SLEDAI score and peripheral blood B cell level of patients, and is not linked to adverse reactions. Therefore, it is worth promoting widely.