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Aim: To examine the effects of a novel immunosuppressant, FTY720, on BXSB lupus-prone mice, and to investigate its immune regulatory pathway by using a cDNA microarray. Methods: Male BXSB mice received oral administration of 10 mg/kg FTY720 twice a week from age 9 weeks. Levels of antinuclear antibodies in serum and histopathology of the kidney were evaluated. The gene expression profile of splenic lymphocyte was analysed by cDNA microarray. Results: FTY720 suppressed the production of antinuclear antibodies (P

Aim: To investigate the long-term prognosis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its risk factors. Methods: An 18-year (1980–1998) clustering follow-up study of 50 patients with SLE was performed. Results: The overall survival rate at 1, 5, 10, 15 and 18 years after the onset of illness was 98%, 98%, 84%, 76%, and 70%, respectively. The two major causes of death were infection and renal failure. Cox proportional hazard regression analysis showed that the presence of ≥ 7 of the American College of Rheumatology criteria for SLE at diagnosis and vasculitis were associated with worse survival. Thirteen (26%) patients were in remission with complete discontinuation of drugs, with the mean remission duration being 12 years (range: 2–17 years). Conclusion: It is possible for patients with SLE to get long-term remission through timely and effective treatment. Prevention of infection and renal failure and reducing dosage of corticosteroids by combined treatment with immunosuppressive drugs may enhance prognosis and survival in SLE.

Objective: To evaluate the differences in the renal survival of lupus nephritis (LN) diagnosed either during 1985–1994 or 1995–2004 and to analyse the possible causes. Methods: Fifty-two patients with biopsy-confirmed LN were followed up between 1985 and 1994 and 130 patients were followed up between 1995 and 2004. Renal survival was studied with Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log rank test. Status at diagnosis and treatment schedules were also analysed. Results: Renal survival was significantly better in the patients who were diagnosed between 1995 and 2004 (P = 0.0233). The mean time from initiation until first diagnosis of SLE, from the initiation of SLE until referral to our centre, and from first detection of proteinuria until kidney biopsy was significantly shorter in the later decade (P