All News
New Gout Therapies Show Promise in Phase III Trials
d
ACR Press Release
At ACR Convergence 2025, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, researchers presented pivotal Phase III studies highlighting novel therapeutic options for patients with gout, particularly those with limited treatment choices or uncontrolled disease.
Read Article
ACR Convergence 2025 Sheds Light on Disparities, Age-Related Trends, and Epidemiology in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
d
ACR Press Release
At ACR Convergence 2025, new research explored critical disparities and epidemiologic trends shaping outcomes in autoimmune rheumatic diseases across diverse populations and age groups. Studies presented at the meeting highlighted issues ranging from kidney transplant outcomes in lupus to medication disparities in rheumatoid arthritis and demographic patterns in systemic sclerosis and axial spondyloarthritis.
Read Article
Social media based outreach to pts for research
Out of 617,207 users engaged, 6 filled the contact form
Based on this social media (knowing also promotion costs) might not be the best strategy to recruit for clinical trials
@RheumNow #ACR25 https://t.co/qCH9WXyTD7
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
💊 SGLT2i vs GLP-1 in Lupus Nephritis
TriNetX evaluating the impact of GLP-1 agonists vs SGLT-2 inhibitors on outcomes of lupus nephritis
📊 GLP-1 use linked to better renal & CV outcomes in LN including:
⬇️ CKD progression
⬇️ Mortality
⬇️ Acute MI
@RheumNow #ACR25 https://t.co/v4LgKFDt68
Akhil Sood MD, MS AkhilSoodMD ( View Tweet)
Could a sputum test predict risk for RA conversion in at-risk patients?
98 at risk pts, Converters had higher
-BL sputum CCP levels
-BL Sputum nucleosome and cit-nucleosome levels !although not asso after adjusting for sputum anti-CCP-IgA level
In converters, correlation of https://t.co/bqmQqS1Jz5
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
Where do patients find informations about their RMD?
Study of 705pts
-80% search engines via smartphone 80.3%
Different pattern within 2 yrs of diagnosis vs. later stage:
-more frequent 19% vs 8%
Most users find online content -understandable 80%
-apply it in daily life 68% https://t.co/9IMvpt2ffr
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
More biomarkers predictive of conversion to clinical RA in at-risk pts
Serum PAD4 & PAD 4 levels measured in CCP+ at-risk individuals
-PAD4 (not PAD2) increased in RA Converters vs. non converters and HC
-PAD4 levels Pre-RA = RA
Within high CCP+ at risk individuals, higher https://t.co/LU5zUzui1G
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
Trying to reach RA, PsA patients on social media, to participate in studies?
Simple, informational messages work for recruitment
Message framing affects engagement but not recruitment
The more we understand, the better we can reach the right people
#ACR25 ABST0187 @RheumNow https://t.co/JoAthXhXvi
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
A simple flow cytometry analysis of peripheral blood monocytes to predicts progression to clinical RA or PsA in at-risk patients?
Too good to be true!
284 RA 56 PsA 57 HC
-HLA-DR higher in PsA
-CD11c lower in RA
But no clear difference between Converters and non Converters https://t.co/f3Sett4eXd
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
Rheumatologists love AI scribes in clinic.
The way we interact is potentially well suited, and accuracy and synthesis quality is bound to improve. Is it inevitable that it will universally be standard practice for us soon?
UCSF clinics #ACR25 @JYazdanyMD ABST0189 @RheumNow https://t.co/kOzfpLlvgD
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
CMV is a worry with high-dose steroids, especially in certain settings.
The risk is far from universal, though: in this Korean cohort treated with high dose pred, almost no-one without risk factors got it.
Meds are rarely the only infection risk factor
#ACR25 ABST203 @RheumNow https://t.co/zLYhLVKgYL
Links:
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
#ACR25 Abstr#803 We need more data to justify biologics before conventional immunosuppressant in #SLE. Post-hoc analysis of 5 Phase 3 RCTs = improved efficacy & GC reduction in BEL+No IS vs PBO+IS. Potential selection bias as control group might be doomed to fail @RheumNow https://t.co/kXmrOUbJzj
Links:
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof Yuz6Yusof ( View Tweet)
#0793 In #SLE, abusive trauma was linked to 58% higher risk of medication non-adherence; resilience buffered this effect. Patients with trauma cited motivational, not access-related, barriers. Trauma-informed & resilience-focused care may improve adherence. @RheumNow #ACR25
Mrinalini Dey DrMiniDey ( View Tweet)
#0794 LLMs can accelerate qualitative lupus pregnancy research. Using AI to translate & analyze interviews from Portuguese, GPT-4 achieved top accuracy & coherence vs human themes. LLMs may expand inclusion & equity in rheum research. @RheumNow #ACR25 https://t.co/TAxg6Qyk0L
Mrinalini Dey DrMiniDey ( View Tweet)
Real-world Indian cohort of 290 axSpA patients, generic tofacitinib achieved low/inactive disease in 89% after 25 months. Most adverse events were mild (e.g., transaminitis 14.5%) and manageable. No serious infections or MACE reported. A cost-effective alternative to bDMARDs in https://t.co/JBHfNq7kYt
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) synovialjoints ( View Tweet)
RheumNow’s expanded coverage of the #ACR25 annual meeting is sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, and UCB. All coverage content is independently selected by RheumNow and its faculty.
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Upadacitinib in GCA doesn't just affect IL-6, it alters IFNg, known to be important in vascular change in GCA.
If UPA in GCA has some cardiovascular concerns extrapolated from RA, it also has some plausible cardiovascular benefits too that TCZ may not
#ACR25 ABST0751 @RheumNow https://t.co/rMetLPP9z6
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
A closer look in skin toxicity of GCs in RMDs
GC Toxicity Index, LONG TOX prospective cohort
Frequent:
-Easy bruising 35%
-Atrophy 22%
-Hirsutism 17%
-Acneiform rash 15%
-Erosion/Tear 12%
GC-related Neuropsychiatric toxicity highly associated with/ skin, something to look out https://t.co/NfxG8JkxSP
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
Nice SRMA evaluating HCQ dosing
>5mg/kg associated w/3.8x risk of retinopathy...
...but <5mg/kg associated w/1.8x risk of SLE flares
Morbidity from one of those is easily avoided by regular screening; morbidity from the other can be devastating
@RheumNow #ACR25 Abstr#805 https://t.co/1vJXxXqiRC
Mike Putman EBRheum ( View Tweet)
PD-1+ effector memory T cells in PsA synovium are functionally active and regulate Th17 cytokines via STAT3/RORγt. Recombinant PD-L1 agonist significantly reduced T cell proliferation and IL-17A/F/IL-22 production highlighting checkpoint agonists as a novel therapeutic strategy https://t.co/I6eNa0j7aa
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) synovialjoints ( View Tweet)
