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Anti-Rheumatic Therapies for COVID-19 Infection
Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic numerous anti-rheumatic therapies have been proposed as being potentially beneficial. The mechanistic effects of these agents, either presumed antiviral, anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic effects, may benefit mitigate the damage seen with COVID-19 infection.
This review will examine the potential benefits and existing evidence for treating suspected or proven COVID-19 infection with antimalarials, inhibitors of interleukin-6 (IL-6) or interleukin-1 (IL-1) Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, TNF inhibitors or colchicine. There are many other antirheumatic and immunosuppressive therapies that are in clinical trials that will not be reviewed here including IVIG, rituximab, calcineurin inhibitors (sirolimus, etc.), apremilast, emapalumab (anti-IFN gamma), etc.
JAK Inhibitor Succeeds as Monotherapy in Rheumatoid Arthritis
The oral Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor upadacitinib (Rinvoq) given as monotherapy was more effective than methotrexate alone in methotrexate-naive patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in a multinational phase III trial.
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IL-17 Superior to TNF Inhibition in Psoriatic Arthritis
A one year head-to-head (H2H) trial has shown ixekizumab (IXE) to be superior to adalimumab (ADA) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA); for both skin and articular outcomes.
The SPIRIT H2H study was a 52-week trial of 566 biologic DMARD naive, PsA patients, randomized to received either IXE or ADA. The primary end point was at Wk 24, but the newly published data shows week 52 results for ACR50 and Psoriasis Area and Severity Index 100 responses.
ICYMI: Protective Benefit of Colchicine in COVID-19 Infection
Colchicine has been advocated as a potential anti-inflammatory intervention in patients with the coronavirus 2 infection and clinical trials have been developed to assess its effect in early COVID-2 infection. JAMA has published a randomized clinical trial showing that low dose colchicine had less clinical deterioration without significant changes in biomarkers, such as high-sensitivity cardiac troponin and C-reactive protein.
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ICYMI: COVID-19 and Thrombotic Complications
Severe and fatal outcomes with coronavirus infection are often the result of the downstream damage that follows the viral infection. Rising high on the list of complications are the hematologic and vascular complications seen in severely affected patients, so much so that many centers are routinely anticoagulating hospitalized (but not ambulatory) COVID patients.
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RheumNow Podcast – Gout Guidelines (7.3.20)
Dr Jack Cush reviews the journal reports and news from RheumNow this past week. Highlights include:
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2020 ACR Gout Management Guideline
In May, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) released the"2020 Guideline for the Management of Gout"reflecting new clinical evidence since the last guideline published in 2012.
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Liver Abnormalities in Psoriatic Arthritis
A new report in the Journal of Rheumatology shows that liver abnormalities are common in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and may be associated with obesity, more severe disease and select therapies.
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Is IL-23 Better than IL-17 Inhibition in Psoriasis?
Data presented at the recent American Academy of Dermatology meeting suggests that interleukin (IL)-23 inhibition with risankizumab was more effective than the IL-17 inhibition (secukinumab) based on a 52 week randomized head-to-head trial in moderate to severe psoriasis patients.
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Tocilizumab May Benefit COVID-19 Pneumonia
A retrospective, observational study published in Lancet Rheumatology has shown that tocilizumab (TCZ) may reduce the risk of death or the need for mechanical ventilation in severe COVID-19 pneumonia. This observational study included adults, with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, who were hospitalized between Feb 21 and March 24, 2020. All were on the standard of care (ie, supplemental oxygen, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, antiretrovirals, and low molecular weight heparin), and a non-randomly selected subset of patients also received TCZ.
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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
FDA has approved a 6th adalimumab biosimilar - called Hulio (adalimumab-fkjp) with indications of rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, adult Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, psoriasis. https://t.co/zMNsDjVewU
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