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If We Can’t Prevent RA, Can We at Least Prevent Difficult-to-Treat RA?
Two new studies presented this year tackle a key question: can our initial treatment choices influence who ends up in the difficult-to-treat category?
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Mulcaire-Jones et al. Changes in PFTs over 1 year in early RA. Improved 31%, worsened 25%. No difference based on baseline disease activity, or MTX use. Those with baseline ILD were MORE likely to improve. ?due to effect of treatment @RheumNow #ACR25 Abstr#2235 https://t.co/bJeLYN9oN7
Richard Conway RichardPAConway ( View Tweet)
Punjadath et al. Predictors of progression palindromic rheumatism to RA. 30 patients. 47% progressed to RA. Total number of joints involved, RF, CRP predicted progression univariate. Only total joints significant in mutlivariate but underpowered. @RheumNow #ACR25 Abstr#2261 https://t.co/FtVKdGtEr9
Richard Conway RichardPAConway ( View Tweet)
Can fiber make methotrexate work better? (LB15)
In a placebo-controlled Superfibers RCT, inulin 12 g/day improved EULAR response & Th17/Treg ratio in RA among MTX users.
@RheumNow #ACR25 https://t.co/awMRNloNw5
Jiha Lee JihaRheum ( View Tweet)
Does fiber boost MTX efficacy?
LB15: Fiber + MTX led to
📉 Greater drop in DAS28 (–1.00 vs –0.34 placebo)
🧬 ↓ Th17 cells & Th17/Treg ratio
Some food for thought
@RheumNow #ACR25 https://t.co/VhLVP1nRy2
Akhil Sood MD, MS AkhilSoodMD ( View Tweet)
Serrano-Combarro et al. Baricitinib in RA-ILD. Observational, 42 patients. Progressive ILD in 26%. More frequent in women. @RheumNow #ACR25 Abstr#2229 https://t.co/ZXfgxKoau7
Richard Conway RichardPAConway ( View Tweet)
How great would it be to have a diagnostic RA-ILD Urine Dipstick?
Small cohort 14 RA-ILD vs. 64 RA no ILD
Urine ILDScore includes 2 proteins
SPOCK1 and PGRMC1
Independently asso with ILD w/ OR 6.19
Urine ILD score alone AUC 0.9
ILD urine score + clinical data AUC = 0.95
Needs https://t.co/7PqX8kdjKJ
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
A new genetic score for ILD prediction! 🫁
Developed in the Veterans RA cohort and Validation in a Swedish cohort
Model using classic RA-ILD risk factors and a cocktail of genetic risk
A cut off of 0.05 in this cohort would exclude 36% from HRCT or PFTs
Good performance https://t.co/6UsoSQAtyK
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
RESET-RA, RCT of vagus nerve stim (device that zaps pts in neck)
Marginal improvements in ACR20 at wk 12; trend in to improvement in unblinded part of study fwiw
Have never seen result that is more likely to be driven by plbo effect & unblinding 🤪
@RheumNow #ACR25 Abstr#2278 https://t.co/BlR570nv7k
Links:
Mike Putman EBRheum ( View Tweet)
Hindosh et al. Semaglutide associated with reduced synovitis, joint pain and swelling, in RA. @RheumNow #ACR25 Abstr#2286 https://t.co/6Xs4um5l32
Richard Conway RichardPAConway ( View Tweet)
Bremer et al. Earlier initiation of biosimilar adalimumab (vs csDMARDs) may result in cost-savings. Reduced cost of tests, consultations, and hospitalisations. @RheumNow #ACR25 Abstr#2271 https://t.co/lHaSiX3WLd
Richard Conway RichardPAConway ( View Tweet)
Semaglutide isn’t just for weight loss?
In RA, users had 20–40% lower risk of synovitis, stiffness & swelling up to 1 year vs matched controls.
GLP-1 agonists may offer anti-inflammatory benefit beyond metabolism.
@RheumNow #ACR25 Abstract#2286
Jiha Lee JihaRheum ( View Tweet)
Mateo Faxas et al. TriNetX study, propensity score matched. 3000 patients. Arrythmia risk is higher with IL-6i vs TNFi in diabetic RA patients. V Tachy (HR 1.4), PPM need (HR 1.4) significantly higher. AF, SVT, VF all numerically increased. @RheumNow #ACR25 Abstr#2283 https://t.co/U2Tk38Mobg
Richard Conway RichardPAConway ( View Tweet)
Effect of air pollution in RA
Prospective cohort 1000+pts w/ 12000+ visits
Higher levels of pollution
& specific size of particles PM25
asso w/
-10% higher odd of flare
-Higher DAS CRP and CDAI
Now the interesting pattern:
PM25 exposure increases 3 weeks before flares https://t.co/MOskJzk05g
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
Higashida-Konishi et al. RA. Insomnia and fatigue in >80%, depression in 13%. RA disease activity is associated with depression, fatigue, and insomnia. @RheumNow #ACR25 Abstr#2254 https://t.co/7SibPW6BBw
Richard Conway RichardPAConway ( View Tweet)
Can AI predict who stops their RA meds?
In older adults on b/tsDMARDs, interpretable ML found frailty, comorbidity & age top the list for nonadherence risk.
@RheumNow #ACR25 Abstract#2287
Jiha Lee JihaRheum ( View Tweet)
Girolami et al. VA study. Safety of DMARDs in RA following melanoma. 644 patients. 3 year all cause mortality. No significant difference, but graph sure looks like b/tsDMARDs are better. No melanoma specific mortality/recurrence data however. @RheumNow #ACR25 Abstr#2237 #ACRBest https://t.co/IN4LDkioT7
Richard Conway RichardPAConway ( View Tweet)
Is RA-ILD associated with/ higher risk of infection?
Retrospective US cohort study
151 RA-ILD
980 matched controls
79% higher risk of any and pulmonary infections in RA-ILD
Pathogen type: bacterial, viral and fungi
Some of these infections are preventable!
Take Home: https://t.co/fPmRjLL7Po
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
A prediction model for RA-ILD in RA pts: is it possible?
Not quite yet!
Veterans Affairs RA registry 2700+ pts
5% of prevalent ILD
Associated w/
-GDF-15
-Pentraxin 3
No prediction for Incident disease
Needs more work to understand implications for practice
@RheumNow #ACR25 https://t.co/CmW72nybcQ
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
#1724 MAIT cells central in RA pathogenesis. These innate-like T cells accumulate in synovial fluid, driving fibroblast activation, cytokine release & joint damage. Blocking MAIT activation or deleting MR1 reduces arthritis in mice- a potential new target in RA. @RheumNow #ACR25
Mrinalini Dey DrMiniDey ( View Tweet)
