Smoking associates with increased BAFF and decreased interferon-γ levels in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
Warren David RaymondMatthew HamdorfMichael FurfaroGro Ostli EilertsenJohannes Cornelis NossentPublished in: Lupus science & medicine (2022)
In patients with SLE, smoking independently associated with increased BAFF and decreased IFN-γ levels, and an increased frequency of arthritis, migraine and Raynaud's phenomenon. Smoking cessation is advisable to reduce systemic inflammation, reduce disease activity and improve host defence.