Exploring How Racial and Social Demographics Predict Short-term Lupus Disease Activity

It’s been established that race and socioeconomic status are associated with disparities in long-term childhood-onset lupus (cSLE) outcomes – but how do these factors affect short-term disease activity? Ongoing research by Lupus Foundation of America Gary S. Gilkeson Career Development Awardee Emily Smitherman, MD, is using data from the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatic Disease Research Alliance (CARRA) Registry to evaluate this question.

To date, she has identified over 400 racially diverse children with lupus in the Registry. While results have not shown a significant association between race/ethnicity and socioeconomic status variables, such as education or income, and short-term disease activity at one point in time, ongoing analysis will examine the association with disease activity over time.

“Through the support of the Lupus Foundation of America and Gary S. Gilkeson Career Development Award, we have gained additional knowledge about children living with lupus through our study of the CARRA Registry,” shared Dr. Smitherman.

The Gary S. Gilkeson Career Development Award supports early career scientists committed to lupus research and aids the professional growth of fellows and clinicians for up to two years of post-fellowship work. Dr. Smitherman will continue her research, working closely with the CARRA Registry’s leadership and lupus committee to assess how geographical variables, like rurality and access to food and medical care, may affect short-term disease activity in cSLE. Learn more about Dr. Smitherman and her research efforts.