This Is What Black Lupus Patients Think About Clinical Trials

Despite being a rare disease, lupus is a leading cause of death for women under the age of 35 with Black women experiencing more severe symptoms and higher mortality rates compared to other groups. This chronic autoimmune disease causes the immune system to attack the body’s tissues, leading to inflammation, pain, and potential organ damage. Clinical trials are a crucial component in developing new and effective lupus treatments, yet despite the prevalence of lupus within the Black community, Black patients remain underrepresented in clinical trials.  Black lupus patients aren’t familiar with clinical trials A recent study in Lupus Science & Medicine shared that Black patients are less familiar with clinical trials and their purpose than non-white patients. This study came from a surveyed cohort of nearly 800 predominantly Black patients with lupus to determine their overall knowledge of clinical trials, their past experiences, and their potential willingness to participate in future clinical trials. The survey was intended to help researchers better understand the barriers to clinical trial participation and ultimately treatment effectiveness in the Black community.  The cohort, known as GOAL (Georgians Organized Against Lupus), is comprised of Atlanta-based patients diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The cohort tracks the...