Real-world Evidence of Anifrolumab Use in Mexican Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A Multicenter Observational Study

Background: Anifrolumab is a monoclonal antibody directed against type I interferon receptor subunit 1 (IFNAR1) that blocks the interferon signaling pathway associated with key inflammatory processes involved in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Its specific use in the Mexican population has not been previously evaluated; therefore, this study aimed to assess the impact of anifrolumab therapy on corticosteroid use in Mexican patients with moderate-to-severe SLE. Methods: A multicenter, observational medical record review study was conducted from September 2024 to May 2025, including Mexican patients with moderate-to-severe SLE who received anifrolumab for 6 months. The primary outcomes were disease control and remission, as defined by the LLDAS and DORIS criteria, respectively. Secondary outcomes included changes in prednisone use and immunologic (anti-dsDNA and complement levels C3 and C4) and hematological parameters. Results: Seventeen patients were included in the study. At the start of treatment, the average prednisone dose was 23.0±18.0 mg, which was significantly reduced by the third month to 5.0±3.0 mg ( p =0.001) and further reduced to 2.5±2.5 mg ( p <0.001) by the 6th month. Approximately 41% of patients stopped using prednisone by month 6 of treatment. A total of 62.5% of patients achieved LLDAS by the 3rd month ( p =0.008), while 43.8% reached clinical remission through DORIS criteria ( p =0.023), and 37.5% reached complete remission ( p =0.041) by the 6th month of treatment. Conclusions: Treatment with anifrolumab for 6 months significantly reduced SLE activity, improved immunologic parameters, and reduced corticosteroid use, as reflected by the achievement of therapeutic goals such as LLDAS and DORIS.