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Express Tribune
a day ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
When the body turns on itself
When 28-year-old Sana began to lose clumps of hair and to wake up with stiff, painful joints in her right hand, she told herself it was nothing but stress. Six months later, a rash across her cheeks flared and she developed breathlessness. Multiple doctors offered inhalers, creams, or reassurance that it would go away. It was only after a referral to a tertiary hospital that blood tests and specialist review produced a diagnosis. She had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), an autoimmune disease in which the body's own immune system attacks skin, joints, kidneys, and other organs. Sana's story is far from unique. In Pakistan, a growing body of clinical research, hospital case series, and on-the-ground testimony from physicians and patients points to two linked truths that autoimmune diseases are not rare, and they are frequently missed, misdiagnosed, or diagnosed late, often with high financial and health costs for patients and families. Unlike Sana, many children are born with eczema and other skin diseases, and the cure is nowhere to be found. 'When my baby was born, he had no problem, but within a few weeks, he developed several allergies and acne on his face, which kept spreading all over his body,' shared Azra Ramsha, adding that after a few weeks of discomfort, she decided to consult a dermatologist because the rashes were not getting any better. Ramsha faced the same issue with both of her daughters and today lives a lifestyle that requires shampoos, face wash, lotions, and many other expensive creams to prevent the rash from flaring up and causing pain to her 5 and 7-year-old daughters. What are autoimmune diseases? Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system, whose primary function is to defend the body against diseases, mistakenly targets healthy tissues. The spectrum is wide for it, as some are organ-specific, for example, type 1 diabetes targets insulin-producing pancreatic cells, while others are systemic, for example, rheumatoid arthritis RA and lupus, and can affect multiple organs. Globally, estimates suggest 5–10% of the population may be affected by one of the 80–100 recognised autoimmune conditions; women are disproportionately affected, making up roughly 4 of every 5 cases for some diseases. While some autoimmune disorders are chronic but stable with treatment but others, left untreated, cause irreversible organ damage, disability, or life-threatening complications. Early recognition, specialist referral, and access to appropriate immunomodulatory therapy can substantially change outcomes. Delayed diagnosis often increases the risk of permanent damage. The Pakistani dilemma Pakistan lacks a single national registry for autoimmune disease, and comprehensive population studies are few. Nonetheless, hospital-based studies, specialist surveys, and international reports that include Pakistani cohorts paint a worrying picture. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) prevalence in Pakistan is estimated at around 0.5% of the population in some studies, comparable to or slightly lower than global figures, but still representing hundreds of thousands of people. On the other hand, Type 1 diabetes and other autoimmune issues are increasingly reported in the younger generation. Screening studies in Pakistani diabetes clinics have found significant rates of additional autoimmune disorders in people with type 1 diabetes. Autoimmune liver diseases and autoimmune hepatitis have been diagnosed in tertiary hospitals in Pakistan. While uncommon, they require specialised testing and early immunosuppression to avoid progression to cirrhosis. Perhaps the most shocking statistic comes from workforce data, published international reporting, and Pakistan-focused pieces which estimate that there are only a few dozen trained rheumatologists in the country. One article cited roughly 24 practitioners, an alarming, inadequate number given Pakistan's population and the burden of rheumatic and autoimmune disease. That imbalance compounds diagnostic delay and limits ongoing specialist care. Sana, a primary school teacher from Lahore, first noticed hair loss and fatigue. Her family doctor treated it as chronic stress and prescribed vitamins. When a facial rash appeared and she began to have joint pain, she visited multiple clinics. Blood tests at a public hospital finally revealed positive ANA and anti-dsDNA antibodies; a nephrology workup then showed early kidney involvement. 'By the time I reached a rheumatologist, I had already lost good weeks of treatment,' she said, adding that early immunosuppression led to further kidney damage, but the delay increased anxiety, medical costs, and the issue of time away from work. Farzana, in her early twenties, developed persistent joint swelling and morning stiffness. Family members advised time, rest, and local remedies. Tests ordered only after the pain became disabling showed elevated inflammatory markers and anti-CCP antibodies. A Pakistani study looking at diagnostic delay in RA patients reported median delays measured in months to years; practitioners point to cultural attitudes that normalise pain and to lack of specialist access as major causes. With early DMARD (disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs) therapy, Farzana's disease was controlled, but many patients in less fortunate circumstances continue to deteriorate. Bilal was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at age 12. Routine screening later revealed hypothyroidism due to autoimmune thyroiditis, a familiar pattern in pediatric diabetes clinics in Pakistan. 'No one realised until I fainted in school one day, because having diabetes as young as 12 is something no one can accept in my family,' Bilal shared, adding that he and his family had a history of diabetes, but even then, no one bothered to get it checked earlier. Structural and cultural causes Several overlapping factors explain why autoimmune diseases are under-recognised in Pakistan, such as a limited specialist workforce and diagnostic capacity. With very few rheumatologists and constrained laboratory services in many districts, patients are often managed for months or years by general practitioners without specialist tests (e.g., autoantibody panels). Studies documenting diagnostic delays and reports from clinicians confirm this bottleneck. Many autoimmune disorders begin with fatigue, body aches, or intermittent rash symptoms commonly attributed to stress, ageing, or infection. 'Cultural tendencies to downplay pain or to seek traditional remedies can delay biomedical evaluation,' shared Shahmeer Ahsan, practicing dermatologist, adding that most of the time patients come to them is after wasting years in general physician clinics. Infectious diseases, maternal health, and non-communicable disease programmes (diabetes, cardiovascular disease) receive the bulk of public health attention, but autoimmune conditions sit between specialties and lack targeted national programmes or surveillance. 'Testing for autoantibodies, imaging, and specialist visits are expensive for many families. Travel to tertiary centres concentrates care in large cities, leaving rural populations underserved,' Ahsan shares. A cross-sectional study of diabetic patients in Rawalpindi highlighted financial strain and treatment compliance challenges that echo across chronic disease care. Diagnosing autoimmune disease requires a combination of clinical and targeted testing. Careful history and examination to detect patterns (e.g., inflammatory joint pain, photosensitive rash, sicca symptoms of dryness). 'Not everything is an infection and not every rash is eczema, it has types and kinds,' Ahsan explained, adding that patients take everything as the same and mostly follow the layman's word and not believe the doctors. Multiple studies in Pakistani hospitals highlight that delays at each step from GP visit to specialist referral to confirmatory testing are common. One Pakistan study of rheumatology clinic patients found that only about a fifth are presented to a rheumatologist within 12 weeks of symptom onset; such delays can close the window of opportunity for optimal response to therapy in conditions like early RA. Manageable, not curable For most autoimmune diseases, there is no cure; the goal of therapy is to control immune activity, prevent organ damage, and maintain quality of life. Therapeutic tools include symptomatic agents such as NSAIDs, analgesics, and short courses of corticosteroids for flares. Conventional DMARDs and immunosuppressants for severe disease, biologic agents, and targeted therapies are also highly effective in many cases but costly and often unavailable in public hospitals. In Pakistan, clinicians say the cost and supply of biologics and long-term immunosuppressants remain serious barriers for many patients. Even when drugs exist in the market, affordability and monitoring for infection risk, blood counts, and liver function add complexity. 'We have a huge mismatch between burden and workforce,' says a rheumatologist involved in training programmes that are slowly expanding rheumatology capacity. A profile of rheumatology in Pakistan noted fewer than three dozen trained specialists caring for millions of people, a situation that extends waiting lists and delays care. Clinicians in tertiary hospitals report that late presentations, for example, patients coming with already advanced lupus nephritis or erosive RA, are common and that psychosocial consequences job loss, family stress, and depression, are underappreciated. A Pakistani study showed depression was overlooked in nearly half of RA patients in some tertiary settings, arguing for integrated mental-health screening in chronic autoimmune care. The rheumatologist also calls for education of general practitioners, scaled-up diagnostics in district hospitals, and the establishment of referral pathways so patients are seen by rheumatology, endocrinology, hepatology, or neurology teams when appropriate. Exact national economic figures for autoimmune disease in Pakistan do not yet exist, but international analyses show chronic autoimmune conditions carry high lifetime costs due to medications, hospitalisations, lost productivity, and disability. In low and middle-income settings, out-of-pocket costs and the absence of social safety nets often push families into financial distress. Local cross-sectional research among diabetic patients demonstrates how treatment costs and compliance challenges interact in a pattern likely mirrored across autoimmune care. Experts and clinicians interviewed suggested scaling up training and the workforce, expanding rheumatology, clinical immunology, and allied specialty training programmes, leveraging telemedicine, and visiting specialist clinics for rural districts. 'Developing short symptom-recognition toolkits for family physicians and medical officers, and creating clear referral pathways to specialists, can help in coping with the menace,' Ahsan suggests. He also suggested that we subsidise core autoantibody testing and inflammatory markers at district hospitals, and develop regional labs to reduce travel and delay can help. Other than that he also proposed that public awareness campaigns, symptom checklists, when to seek care and establish patient support organisations in major cities to reduce stigma and improve self-management. While creating a national registry for autoimmune diseases and standardising case reporting across tertiary hospitals to inform policy and resource allocation. Where early recognition and coordinated care exist, outcomes improve. In tertiary centres across Pakistan, multidisciplinary clinics that combine rheumatology, nephrology, and dermatology have demonstrated better monitoring and faster initiation of disease-modifying therapy for conditions like lupus. Specialist training programmes often run with international partners are producing the next generation of clinicians. But scaling these pilots into nationwide systems will require political will, financing, and public engagement. Bringing it out of the shadows Autoimmune diseases are not exotic rarities; they are chronic, often disabling conditions that affect tens or hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis. Yet the current system too often allows these disorders to fester undetected until organ damage or functional loss becomes evident. What Sana, Farzana, and Bilal's lives experienced makes clear is that early recognition makes a difference, it saves function, reduces long-term cost, and preserves quality of life. To achieve that in Pakistan will take better data, wider public understanding, stronger primary care, more specialists, and fairer access to diagnostics and medicines. This is a public-health and human-rights issue as much as a clinical one. As clinicians and patient advocates here say, it's time to move autoimmune diseases from the clinic's margins into mainstream health planning before the next set of patients lose precious months or years to diagnostic delay.
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Adicet Bio Reports Second Quarter 2025 Financial Results and Provides Business Updates
- Actively enrolling patients with lupus nephritis (LN), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and systemic sclerosis (SSc) in Phase 1 clinical trial of ADI-001 in autoimmune diseases On track to report preliminary clinical data for ADI-001 in 2H/2025 Enrollment now open for patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM), stiff person syndrome (SPS) and anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic autoantibody associated vasculitis (AAV) Advancing development of ADI-212, an optimized next-generation gene-edited and armored clinical candidate designed to enhance potency in solid tumors and to deliver multiple anti-tumor mechanisms of action to the tumor microenvironment REDWOOD CITY, Calif. & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Adicet Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACET), a clinical stage biotechnology company discovering and developing allogeneic gamma delta T cell therapies for autoimmune diseases and cancer, today reported financial results and operational highlights for the second quarter ended June 30, 2025. 'We continue to make meaningful progress in our ADI-001 autoimmune Phase 1 clinical program. Site activation is progressing well with more than 20 sites currently open for enrollment in multiple territories and additional sites on track to open in the next few months. We see increased interest by investigators and patients in ADI-001 as a well-tolerated, off the shelf, one-time potential therapy for patients with autoimmune diseases. Enrollment is gathering momentum and we remain on track to share preliminary Phase 1 data for the program in the second half of 2025, with at least 6 patients with at least 3 months' follow-up, which we believe will further validate the differentiated potential of our gamma delta T cell platform,' said Chen Schor, President and Chief Executive Officer of Adicet Bio. 'In addition, we have recently conducted a strategic review of our pipeline to focus our resources on programs with the greatest potential for long-term clinical and commercial value. As such, we are prioritizing the preclinical development of ADI-212, a gene-edited and armored clinical candidate designed to enhance potency in solid tumors and to deliver multiple anti-tumor mechanisms of action to the tumor microenvironment. Our commitment to executing with focus, operational excellence, and discipline position us to deliver differentiated gamma delta 1 CAR T therapies with the best potential to address medical need for patients.' Second Quarter 2025 and Recent Operational Highlights: Autoimmune diseases First SSc patient dosed in ongoing Phase 1 clinical trial in autoimmune diseases. In July 2025, Adicet announced that the first SSc patient was dosed in the second cohort of the Phase 1 clinical trial evaluating ADI-001 in autoimmune disease, in addition to ongoing enrollment in LN and SLE. The Company recently opened enrollment in the Phase 1 trial to include patients with IIM, SPS and AAV. Adicet remains on track to share preliminary clinical data from the Phase 1 trial in the second half of 2025. Solid tumor indications Prioritizing ADI-212 development for prostate cancer. Adicet is advancing ADI-212, an optimized next-generation gene-edited and armored clinical candidate designed to enhance potency in solid tumors and to deliver multiple anti-tumor mechanisms of action to the tumor microenvironment. ADI-212, which targets prostate specific membrane antigen (PSMA), has shown enhanced activity in preclinical studies, suggesting the potential for improved potency and tumor-cell killing capacity compared to previous generation alpha-beta and gamma-delta CAR T programs in oncology. The Company expects to submit a regulatory filing for ADI-212 for the treatment of metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) in the first quarter of 2026. Subject to regulatory clearance to proceed with a clinical trial, the Company expects to report initial clinical data from this program in the second half of 2026. Corporate updates Recently announced pipeline prioritization with workforce and cost reduction initiatives. In July 2025, the Company announced a strategic prioritization of its pipeline intended to optimize the development of assets with the greatest potential for clinical and commercial success. In connection with this, the Company has made the decision to discontinue the development of ADI-270 for patients with metastatic/advanced clear renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and close enrollment in the ADI-270 Phase 1 clinical trial. Adicet also reduced its workforce by approximately 30% in connection with its strategic pipeline prioritization. The workforce reduction and other expense reductions related to the strategic pipeline prioritization are expected to extend the Company's cash runway into the fourth quarter of 2026. Financial Results for Second Quarter 2025: Research and Development (R&D) Expenses: R&D expenses were $28.4 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $25.9 million during the same period in 2024. The increase in R&D expenses was due to a $1.4 million increase in expenses related to contract development and manufacturing organizations and contracted R&D services, a $1.6 million increase in facility-related expenses, and a $0.2 million increase in lab supplies and materials. This increase was partially offset by a $0.7 million decrease in payroll and personnel expenses primarily related to a decrease in stock-based compensation expense. General and Administrative (G&A) Expenses: G&A expenses were $4.0 million for the three months ended June 30, 2025, compared to $6.9 million during the same period in 2024. The decrease in G&A expenses was due to a $1.8 million decrease in payroll and personnel expenses primarily related to a decrease in stock-based compensation expense and a $1.1 million decrease in facility-related expenses. Net Loss: Net loss for the three months ended June 30, 2025 was $31.2 million, or a net loss of $0.34 per basic and diluted share, including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $2.9 million, as compared to a net loss of $29.9 million, or a net loss of $0.33 per basic and diluted share, including non-cash stock-based compensation expense of $6.0 million during the same period in 2024. Cash Position: Cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments were $125.0 million as of June 30, 2025, compared to $176.3 million as of December 31, 2024. The Company expects that current cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments as of June 30, 2025, will be sufficient to fund its operating expenses into the fourth quarter of 2026. About Adicet Bio, Inc. Adicet Bio, Inc. is a clinical stage biotechnology company discovering and developing allogeneic gamma delta T cell therapies for autoimmune diseases and cancer. Adicet is advancing a pipeline of 'off-the-shelf' gamma delta T cells, engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs), to facilitate durable activity in patients. For more information, please visit our website at Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains 'forward-looking statements' of Adicet within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 relating to the business and operations of Adicet. The words 'anticipate,' 'believe,' 'continue,' 'could,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'may,' 'plan,' 'potential,' 'predict,' 'project,' 'should,' 'target,' 'would' and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain these identifying words. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, express or implied statements regarding: clinical development of Adicet's product candidates, including future plans or expectations for ADI-001 in autoimmune diseases and the potential safety, tolerability and efficacy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and cancer; timing and success of the Phase 1 clinical trial of ADI-001 in LN, SLE, SSc, AAV, IIM and SPS, including timing and expectations for enrollment and future data releases; expectations regarding the preclinical and clinical development of ADI-212, including the timing of regulatory filings and future data releases; expectations regarding the potential potency of ADI-212, as compared to previous generation alpha-beta and gamma-delta CAR T programs in oncology; expectations regarding the pipeline prioritization and workforce reduction, including as it relates to the estimated reduction in expenses and the development of assets with the greatest potential for clinical and commercial success; and expectations regarding Adicet's uses of capital, expenses and financial results, including the expected extension of the cash runway into the fourth quarter of 2026. Any forward-looking statements in this press release are based on management's current expectations and beliefs of future events, and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially and adversely from those set forth in or implied by such forward-looking statements, including without limitation, the effect of global economic conditions and public health emergencies on Adicet's business and financial results, including with respect to disruptions to our preclinical and clinical studies, business operations, employee hiring and retention, and ability to raise additional capital; Adicet's ability to execute on its strategy including obtaining the requisite regulatory approvals on the expected timeline, if at all; that positive results, including interim results, from a preclinical or clinical study may not necessarily be predictive of the results of future or ongoing studies; clinical studies may fail to demonstrate adequate safety and efficacy of Adicet's product candidates, which would prevent, delay, or limit the scope of regulatory approval and commercialization; and regulatory approval processes of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and comparable foreign regulatory authorities are lengthy, time-consuming, and inherently unpredictable; and Adicet's ability to meet production and product release expectations. For a discussion of these and other risks and uncertainties, and other important factors, any of which could cause Adicet's actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, see the section titled 'Risk Factors' in Adicet's most recent annual report on Form 10-K, as well as discussions of potential risks, uncertainties, and other important factors in Adicet's other filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, including its quarterly report on Form 10-Q. All information in this press release is as of the date of the release, and Adicet undertakes no duty to update this information unless required by law. ADICET BIO, INC. Consolidated Balance Sheets Information (in thousands) (Unaudited) June 30, 2025 December 31, 2024 Cash and cash equivalents, and short term investments in treasury securities $ 124,963 $ 176,303 Working Capital 110,661 160,744 Total assets 162,972 220,219 Accumulated deficit (557,325 ) (497,894 ) Total stockholders' equity 133,372 186,609 Expand Contacts Adicet Bio, Inc. Investor and Media Contacts Anne Bowdidge abowdidge@ Penelope Belnap Precision AQ 212-362-1200 Adicet Bio, Inc. NASDAQ:ACET Release Versions English Contacts Adicet Bio, Inc. Investor and Media Contacts Anne Bowdidge abowdidge@ Penelope Belnap Precision AQ 212-362-1200 More News From Adicet Bio, Inc. Get RSS Feed Adicet Bio to Participate in a Fireside Chat at the 2025 Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference REDWOOD CITY, Calif. & BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Adicet Bio, Inc. (Nasdaq: ACET), a clinical stage biotechnology company discovering and developing allogeneic gamma delta T cell therapies for autoimmune diseases and cancer, today announced that Chen Schor, President and Chief Executive Officer, will participate in a fireside chat at the Jefferies Global Healthcare Conference being held from June 3-5, 2025 in New York. Details of the event are as follows: Date: Wednesday, June 4, 2025 Time: 4:20... Back to Newsroom
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Super League Sets Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Date, August 14, 2025
SANTA MONICA, Calif., Aug. 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Super League (Nasdaq: SLE), a leader in engaging audiences through playable media, content, and experiences within mobile games and the world's largest immersive platforms, announced today that the Company will post its second quarter 2025 financial results after market close on Thursday, August 14, 2025. A webinar will be held the same day at 5:00 pm Eastern Time to discuss the results and can be accessed using the below dial-in numbers or registration link. Super League Second Quarter 2025 Earnings Webinar Date: Thursday, August 14, 2025 Time: 5:00 pm Eastern Time Dial-in: 1-877-407-0779 International Dial-in: 1-201-389-0914 Webinar: Register Here A replay will be available within 24 hours after the webinar and can be accessed here or on the Company's investor relations website at About Super League Super League (Nasdaq: SLE) is transforming how brands engage with consumers through the power of playable media. The company delivers ads, content, and immersive experiences that go beyond being seen, they're played, felt, and remembered across mobile games and the world's largest immersive gaming platforms. Powered by proprietary technology, an award-winning development studio, and a vast network of native creators, Super League offers a unique partnership for brands seeking to stand out culturally, inspire loyalty, and drive meaningful impact. In an attention-driven world, Super League makes brands relevant by making them playable. For more information, visit Investor Relations Contact:Shannon Devine/ Mark Schwalenberg MZ North AmericaMain: 203-741-8811SLE@ in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
BBC News
5 days ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Funds for the rural army tackling Scotland's wildfires
One of Scotland's national parks has confirmed funding to equip a growing army of rural workers who are being called upon to help tackle Cairngorms National Park Authority (CNPA) has confirmed that 12 projects will share a £270,000 fund to tackle the impacts of climate from last year's pot bought fire fighting equipment used to control and extinguish the largest wildfire in Scotland's history at Dava in Moray last park authority says the role of private landowners in preventing and tackling wildfires is increasingly vital. When fires broken out in July, more than a hundred workers from dozens of private businesses were used to help tackle the Land and Estates (SLE) estimated they were the largest wildfires Scotland had ever witnessed, covering more than 29,000 hectares or 112 square miles.A fogging unit, which sprays a fine mist on the flames at close range, and a larger converted slurry tank with a hose attached were used on the were bought from the 2024 Climate Adaptation Fund which totalled £370, pot for this year has been cut by £100,000 and will also be used to fund the installation of solar panels and battery storage as well as planting trees on the banks of the River Spey to shade the water from the sun. More than 60 businesses expressed interest in applying for the funds for projects which would cost more than £1m in protective equipment, two-way radios and more fogging equipment will be bought for the Alvie Estate near Kingussie.A remote controlled mower to reduce the height of shrubs and trees - known as brush - will reduce the risk of chief executive Grant Moir says people in the Cairngorms have already been experiencing the impacts of climate change through flooding and added: "It's absolutely vital that there's good co-operation between the private sector and the public sector in terms of tackling wildfires."What we're trying to do is to show the park authority is helping to do these things on the ground." The Alvie and Dalraddy estates near Kingussie have been investing in technology to fight fires as well as providing training for its of the estate's workers were drafted in to help the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service tackle the huge blaze last month at Dava, about 30 miles are part of a network of private landowners providing reinforcements and specialist local knowledge to the fire fire at Dava, and another at Carrbridge, took several days to be put Jamie Williamson has become concerned that a combination of the warming climate and changes in land management practices are making the countryside more vulnerable. He said: "It's building up and speaking to the Portuguese fire service - they've been saying we're only 20 years behind them in having loss of life due to wildfires."Last year, dozens of land managers and firefighters from across the world, including Spain, Portugal and Australia, came to Scotland for a conference on how best to tackle the demonstrated how leaf blowers and jet washers were being used by land managers, alongside conventional equipment, to tackle the fires. Scottish Fire and Rescue Service's lead officer on wildfires, Michael Humphreys, described it as one of the largest threats faced by rural fire service has also been investing in new technology and training, including smaller fire engines which can be more easily driven down country tracks.
Medscape
04-08-2025
- Health
- Medscape
Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter a Risk Factor for SLE
TOPLINE: Higher exposure to particulate matter with a diameter < 2.5 µm (PM 2.5 ) was associated with a significantly increased risk for incident systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) among Taiwanese adults. METHODOLOGY: Researchers conducted a longitudinal study using data from a Taiwanese cohort between 2005 and 2017 to determine whether exposure to PM 2.5 affected the risk of developing SLE. affected the risk of developing SLE. They included 268,254 adults (mean age, 39.3 years; 51% women) and followed them up for a mean of 9.8 years. New-onset SLE was determined using data from a national registry. Annual average concentrations of PM 2.5 were estimated using data from Taiwan's air quality-monitoring database at the residential addresses of participants. TAKEAWAY: A total of 151 adults (0.1%) developed new-onset SLE, yielding an incidence of 5.75 cases per 100,000 person-years. Each 5-µg/m 3 increase in exposure to PM 2.5 was associated with a 3.35-fold higher risk for incident SLE (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.35; 95% CI, 2.94-3.82). increase in exposure to PM was associated with a 3.35-fold higher risk for incident SLE (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 3.35; 95% CI, 2.94-3.82). A significant positive linear relationship was observed between exposure to PM 2.5 and the risk for incident SLE across all age and sex subgroups. and the risk for incident SLE across all age and sex subgroups. Female sex (aHR, 10.00; 95% CI, 5.56-16.67) and former smoking (aHR, 2.59; 95% CI, 1.23-5.48) were identified as other independent risk factors for incident SLE. IN PRACTICE: '[The] findings suggest that it is imperative to implement effective public policies aimed at improving air quality to reduce the incidence of SLE,' the authors wrote. SOURCE: This study was led by Yun-Ju Lai, MD, PhD, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan. It was published online on July 20, 2025, in Lupus Science & Medicine. LIMITATIONS: Status of genes associated with SLE susceptibility was not known. Data on income levels or environmental risk factors linked to SLE, such as exposure to crystalline silica, were unavailable. Reliance on registry data rather than clinical assessment may have reduced the diagnostic accuracy. All participants were from Taiwan, thereby affecting the generalizability of the findings. DISCLOSURES: This study was supported by grants from the Department of Health, Taipei City Government. The authors declared having no competing interests. This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.
