News

Switching from a biologic to a biosimilar did not affect safety or efficacy in a clinical trial of a rheumatoid arthritis biosimilar for etanercept (Enbrel, Amgen), shows a new study.

A second study published in May on the safety and efficacy of biosimilars, shows that switching rheumatoid arthritis patients from etanercept (Enbrel, Amgen) to its biosimilar etanercept-szzs (Erelzi, Sandoz), does not affect efficacy, safety or immunogenicity of etanercept.

In April, the FDA approved the etanercept biosimilar etanercept-ykro (Eticovo, Samsung Bioepis) for the same indications as its reference product Enbrel.

Despite being the most common form of inflammatory arthritis, gout continues to be poorly managed, new research indicates.

Obese patients with osteoarthritis who take metformin have a slower rate of medial cartilage loss, putting them at a reduced risk for total knee replacement, a new study found.

Racial and ethnic minority patients with lupus develop more kidney, neurological, and blood manifestations than their white counterparts, according to new research.

Despite recommendations against using opioids and benzodiazepines to treat osteoarthritis pain, new research shows significant numbers of patients, especially older patients, are still receiving prescriptions for these medications.

Early treatment with DMARDs for juvenile idiopathic arthritis polyarthritis is now preferred over beginning patients on NSAID monotherapy, per updated treatment guidelines. 

Psoriasis patients have a lower risk of serious infection with specific biologic and non-biologic medications than with methotrexate, based on new research results.

The rare disease patient population is smaller and in need of immediate treatment. What's next after the SENSCIS trial results?

Getting more exercise can reduce a woman’s risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis, according to new research.

Welcome to Rheumatology Network, an online publication of the ModernMedicine Network for healthcare professionals. What's inside? Research news summaries, conference coverage, case studies, photo clinics and more. We welcome contributing articles from physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals.

In round two of our ongoing psoriatic arthritis quiz series, we focus on treatment recommendations made in the 2018 ACR/NPF psoriatic arthritis treatment guidelines. We also include a puzzler based on findings from a newly published study.

Active psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis can lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, which grows with corticosteroid use, a study shows.

Real-world applications of non-biologic treatments in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis may be effective in controlling or maintaining the condition in some patients, new research shows.

Remission is unlikely in non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis without biologic therapy. Adding certolizumab to background therapy can lead to significant improvements in disease activity compared to placebo, researchers find.

In a recent edition of Frontiers in Immunology, Dr. Walter Maksymowych, University of Alberta, reviews the use of biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis in axial spondyloarthritis. Learn more in this summary.

A review article confirms low adherence and persistence rates for medication compliance in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Patients with higher adherence rates had better outcomes.

Serious infections are low, but herpes zoster surpasses expectations, review article shows.

Investigators found that habitual glucosamine use was linked to lower risk of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

Previous trials have sought out fracture risk between the therapies over 1 year, and have also found few differences.

Investigators found that patients with undiagnosed severe obstructive sleep apnea were at an increased risk of suffering a postoperative cardiovascular event.

The JAK inhibitor tofacitinib presents a comparably low risk of venous thromboembolism to rheumatoid arthritis patients as do TNFi inhibitors, according to a new study.

Tofacitinib 5 mg or 10 mg twice daily with methotrexate can sustain improvements for 24 months, one study shows.

African American women are disproportionately likely to develop systemic lupus erythematosus, and their disease course is more severe than other demographic groups, says Dr. Edith Williams. In this Q&A, she introduces us to a peer-mentoring program designed to foster self-management.

Patient-doctor narrative matters, says Lisa Rosenbaum, M.D., a cardiologist with Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. She shared her insights on patient narratives last month at LUPUS 2019 in San Francisco where she gave the keynote address. Learn more in this Q&A. 

Baricitinib treatment does not increase the risk for cardiovascular problems in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to new research.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients taking tofacitinib could face some increased risks for significant cardiovascular events, depending upon their underlying characteristics, according to the results of a new study.

Patients with plaque psoriasis taking apremilast, etanercept, and ustekinumab had a lower rate of serious infections than those who took methotrexate.

Investigators found that female sex, older age, and certain comorbidities were associated with an increased risk of uveitis.