Belimumab is a B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS)-specific inhibitor that is FDA approved for the treatment of active lupus and lupus nephritis, based on a few pivotal trials; and now a metanalysis supports its use in active lupus nephritis.

Nature Neuroscience reports a novel approach to assessing chronic neuropathic pain - intracranial electrodes in the anterior cingulate cortex and orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) to map chronic pain signaling. 

Dr. Jack Cush reviews more than a dozen news, journal articles and RNL highlights from this past week on RheumNow.com.

Recent reports have suggested a rising and unrecognized number of patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) compared to rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

The Lupus Research Alliance and its clinical research affiliate Lupus Therapeutics today announced the launch of the Lupus Landmark Study, a groundbreaking observational research study to accelerate the development of personalized treatments for people living with lupus.

Multinational metanalyses of data between 1989 and 2022 shows that NSAID prescriptions have decreased over time, and differs according to geographical locations.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) has a different phenotype when diagnosed late in life compared with earlier onset, a large Italian cohort study indicated.

The commonly used Fracture Risk Assessment Tool (FRAX), which includes self-identified race and ethnicity information, and the Osteoporosis Self-Assessment Tool (OST), which does not, had suboptimal performance in determining major osteoporotic fracture risk across racial/ethnic categories in you

Analysis of National Health Interview Survey data shows that the incidence of chronic pain in the USA is high compared with other chronic diseases.

Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation has published an overview of the management of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis with glomerulonephritis based on several international guidelines, including those frorm the ACR 2021, EULAR 2022 and KDIGO 2021 (Kidney Disease: Improving

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.  This week we delve into some odd associations, repeat drug warnings and the consequences of antirheumatic therapies.

Peresolimab is a humanized IgG1 monoclonal antibody that acts as a programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) agonist (stimulator). The NEJM reports that PER met its efficacy primary endpont in treating patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA). 

Brepocitinib is a novel tyrosine kinase 2/Janus kinase 1 inhibitor and has been studied in patients with moderately-to-severely active psoriatic arthritis (PsA), showing impressive efficacy at both 16 weeks and 52 weeks.