Use of Tacrolimus and Voclosporin as Induction Therapy in Lupus Nephritis: A Focused Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Evidence

Background

Lupus nephritis (LN) remains a major cause of morbidity among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus, and treatment resistance continues to pose clinical challenges. Calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs), including tacrolimus (TAC) and voclosporin (VCS), are used in induction regimens, but randomized evidence for the two agents arises from clinically different trial designs. This systematic review and meta-analysis separately quantifies randomized evidence for TAC-based and VCS-based induction regimens.