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Can Mycophenolate be Stopped in Stable SLE?

In patients with clinicall stable systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis, the withdrawal of mycophenolate mofetil was not significantly inferior to mycophenolate maintenance, but MMF withdrawal had numerically more reactivations, while MMF maintenance had more infections.

COVIDs Extended Risk for Rheumatic Disease

EurekAlert!

Annals of Internal Medicine reports a large, binational study finding SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with an increased risk for autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) that extends up to 12 months after infe

Sniffles & Arthritis (3.1.2024)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Are these associations with infection, biomarkers and weather real or imaginary? Linked or luck? Causal or casual?  You decide....

Many with Psoriatic Arthritis Fail to Achieve Minimal Disease Activity

Despite the availability of numerous advanced therapies for psoriatic arthritis (PsA), there remains a substantial burden and unmet need for improved therapies, according to a newly published Canadian study.

Polyarteritis Nodosa: Clinical Features and Outcomes

A multinational study of polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) through the international GLOBAL-PAN network shows PAN to be a complex, multisystem disorder with a high risk of relapse and low risk of death (11% at 10 years).

Excess Cardiovascular Risk in Gout

A UK population cohort study has shown that gout carries an increased risk for a wide variety of cardiovascular disorders.

Can Biomarkers Improve Cardiovascular Risk Assessments in RA?

The TARGET (Treatments Against RA and Effect on FDG PET/CT) trial showed that different treatment strategies equally benefited arterial inflammation (by FDG-PET) in rheumatoid arthritis. A subsequent analysis of these patients showed several candidate biomarkers that may correlate with baseline and treatment‐associated changes in arterial inflammation in patients with RA. 

Sinusitis Linked to 40% Heightened Risk of Rheumatic Disease

EurekAlert!
The common inflammatory condition sinusitis is linked to a 40% heightened risk of a subsequent diagnosis of rheumatic disease, particularly in the 5 to 10 years preceding the start of symptoms, finds research published in the open access journal RMD Open.

EGPA: Benralizumab or Mepolizumab

A multicenter, double-blind, phase 3, randomized, active-controlled trial has shown that Benralizumab (BEN) was noninferior to mepolizumab (MEP) for the induction of remission of patients with relapsing or refractory Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA).

Behçet’s Syndrome

A comprehensive overview of Behcet's syndrome appeared in last week's NEJM, reviewing the numerous advances in the immunogenetics, syndrome recognition, and targeted therapeutic approaches.

Immunosuppression Increasing (2.23.2024)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past 2 weeks on RheumNow.com; but begins with a discussion of what constitutes "immunosuppression" and how it applies to our patients.

No clear link between weather and MSK symptoms

EurekAlert!

There is a longstanding belief that changes in weather conditions, such as impending rain or temperature, can trigger or worsen muscle and joint pain but Australian researchers have found no clear pattern between the two.