Abstract
Glucocorticoids (GC) play very important role in therapy of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) to subdue active SLE in the beginning of the disease and to subdue flares. GC belongs to the group of the most powerful anti-inflammatory drugs with complex mechanism of action, which can also influence cell's metabolism on gene level.
Long term GC therapy is connected to various potentially very serious side effects. Belimumab is the first approved biological drug in treatment of SLE in USA, Canada and Europe.
Belimumab is humanized recombinant monoclonal IgG antibody which is able to block binding of soluble BLyS (B lymphocyte stimulator) on B lymphocytes. Belimumab proved its effect in treatment of an adult patients with active SLE and also showed its GS sparring abilities