News

ACR Set to Issue Updated RA Treatment Guidelines

The American College of Rheumatology is expected to issue updated treatment guidelines for rheumatoid arthritis no later than spring 2021. The new guidelines will include recommended uses for biologics approved since the last update in 2015―including JAK inhibitors.

Q&A: Methotrexate and Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis screening and ongoing clinical care is needed for patients prescribed methotrexate, particularly if co-administered with corticosteroids or other immunosuppressants, who live in areas where tuberculosis is common, according to researchers recently reporting at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology.

Tofacitinib, Adalimumab, Methotrexate Show Similar Influenza Adverse Events in RA

In a study that examined the influenza adverse events (AEs) of tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Pfizer) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, similar AEs were seen with tofacitinib, adalimumab, methotrexate, and placebo, and between different tofacitinib doses and patient age groups, according to researchers reporting at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology on Monday.

Q&A: Hydroxychloroquine and Heart Rhythm in SLE

Patients with systemic lupus erythematous (SLE) who take hydroxychloroquine do not have any differences in their corrected QT (QTc) intervals on electrocardiogram (EKG), even if they have chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to researchers reporting at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology on Monday.

Rheumatic Disease Patients Bear the Brunt of Antimalarial Shortages

Lessons learned from antimalarial drug shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic: rheumatic disease patients in African and South-East Asia had difficulty obtaining antimalarials as compared to counterparts in the Americas and Europe. Shortages led to worse mental and physical health outcomes. Antimalarials did not protect patients from COVID-19.

Screening and treatment of osteoporosis improves following initiative to raise awareness of 2017 ACR GIOP guidelines

Doctors increased their use of DEXA screening and initiate osteoporosis therapy more frequently after the implementation of an initiative to raise their awareness of the 2017 American College of Rheumatology (ACR) guidelines for the management of glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP), according to researchers reporting at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology on Friday.

Corticosteroids Not a Contributor in Advanced Knee Osteoarthritis

The use of corticosteroid injections may not be associated with the progression of knee osteoarthritis to the point of total knee replacement any more than the use of hyaluronic acid, according to a presentation made today at the American College of Rheumatology annual meeting.

juvenile arthritis

In a study that examined the long-term effectiveness of intravenous and subcutaneous abatacept (Orencia, Bristol-Myers Squibb) in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), the treatment was safe and well-tolerated with no new safety risks identified, according to researchers reporting at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology on Saturday.

Secukinumab Improved Signs and Symptoms in Patients with Non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results from a Randomized Controlled Phase III Study Stratified by Baseline Objective Signs of Inflammation

In a study that examined the effects of guselkumab (Tremfya, Janssen) on fatigue in patients with psoriatic arthritis, the treatment reduced fatigue through one year, according to researchers reporting at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology on Friday.

ABSTRACT NUMBER: 1366  Secukinumab Improved Signs and Symptoms in Patients with Non-radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis: Results from a Randomized Controlled Phase III Study Stratified by Baseline Objective Signs of Inflammation

An analysis of patients with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) with an elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and/or evidence of sacroiliitis on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) found that secukinumab (Cosentyx, Novartis) use resulted in numerically higher treatment response rates than placebo.

minorities rheumatic disease acr annual meeting

In a study that explored the longitudinal racial disparities in rheumatoid arthritis treatment and emergency department use, black rheumatoid arthritis patients were found to be less likely to receive biologics and instead, be given a prescription for glucocorticoids, say researchers reporting at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology on Friday.