▸ Definitions of remission in SLE will be worded as follows: Remission in SLE is a durable state characterized by …………………. (reference to symptoms, signs, routine labs)

• ▸ Requirement for serology may be added

▸ For defining remission in SLE, a validated index must be used

• ▸ Suggested indices are: clinical SLEDAI=0; BILAG 2004 D or E only; clinical ECLAM=0

• ▸ These must be supplemented by the physician's global assessment being below an appropriate threshold (eg, <0.5 on a 0–3 scale)

▸ A distinction will be made between remission off therapy and remission on therapy

• – Remission off therapy requires the patient to be on no other treatment for SLE than maintenance antimalarials

• ▸ Remission on therapy allows patients to be treated with maintenance antimalarials, stable, low-dose glucocorticoids (eg, prednisone ≤5 mg/day), maintenance immunosuppressives and/or stable (maintenance) biologics