People with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) are at risk of a number of comorbidities, from cardiovascular diseases to cognitive impairment and fractures. The 2026 EULAR Congress showcased new data and ideas around various comorbidities and drug safety issues in people with an RMD – highlighting the need for integrated care. Here are five abstracts to consider.
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The first day of EULAR 2026 in London featured the opening ceremonies, a plenary session, posters nd the first round of major oral presentations to an audience of nearly 15,000 attendees. Here are a few of my favorites from the first day.
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Few topics in rheumatology have reshaped prescribing behaviour as dramatically as the safety concerns surrounding JAK inhibitors following ORAL Surveillance and the subsequent FDA and EMA warnings.
🔬 Does synovial biopsy-guided treatment outperform standard care in PsA?
YES - 68% vs 45% DAPSA remission/LDA in 45pts
OP071 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/cLCR7I8QAm
Antoni Chan MD (Prof)
Tweet
Tofacitinib achieved ASDAS inactive disease in 26.4% of patients with early #axSpA (back pain ≤2 years) vs 7.4% placebo at 16 weeks (p=0.006). First RCT of advanced therapy in very early axSpA Abstr#0241 @RheumNow #EULAR2026
Antoni Chan MD (Prof)
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Day 2 of #EULAR2026 Studies to look forward today in #axSpA: new classification criteria performance, sex differences in disease progression, early disease treatment data, primary care education to reduce delays to diagnosis @RheumNow
🤰What happens to RA disease activity during pregnancy?
🔴 Most remain stable
🔴 70% with high disease activity at baseline improve
🔴 20% flare again post-partum
✨ACPA+ improve more
✨ Better outcomes after 2016 (after modern treatments)
OP0242 #EULAR2025 @rheumnow https://t.co/i3X566DcN6
sheila
Tweet
Roc-SpA study
Active axSpA dse + inad response to TNFi ➡️switch or cycled
No significant diff in ASDAS40 at wk24 bet IL-17i & 2nd TNFi
Switching to IL-17i not superior to cycling to 2nd TNFi after inad. response to 1st TNFi
Shared decision is key
AbsOP0235 @RheumNow #EULAR2026 https://t.co/3UP37IEgXv
#OP0236: a look at the revised 2025 ASAS-SPARTAN classification criteria for axSpA from the global CLASSIC cohort. The updated criteria achieved 79.5% sensitivity & 90.4% specificity, with MRI & radiographic sacroiliitis remaining central to classification. #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/rVIqyCmB8K
Janet Pope
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Is there a ‘window
Of opportunity’ for Rx
#GCA w #IL6i
🤞
Obtain a better response
Rx GCA #GC
#TCZ
#Upadacitinib
#MTX
Study tries to answer if effects of #tocilizumab early vs >8wks is diff
N=471, 19% new GCA
Early vs late TCZ no dif
❎No
Not RCT
POS0624 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow
Aurelie Najm
Tweet
And we are on!
A full house for #EULAR2026 Opening ceremony highlighting @eular_org initiatives in the field of research, education and patient empowerment and a call “better care leading to better lives” by president Xenofon Baraliakos
@RheumNow https://t.co/zTQUFcjXBI
It’s that time of year again! 🎉
Delighted to once again be joining the @RheumNow faculty to bring you the highlights from #EULAR2026 in London!
@bella_mehta
@JihaRheum
@AurelieRheumo
@Janetbirdope
@Nellziade
@RHEUMarampa
@synovialjoints
@Yuz6Yusof https://t.co/WvhpYJJNUk
Aurelie Najm
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"the further I look back, the further I can see the future"
Dennis McGonagle quoting Winston Churchill to describe his approach to understanding What is New in PsA at #EULAR2026
@eular_org @RheumNow https://t.co/ayInzzb9lO
#EULAR2026 OP0125 It’s a case of “teamwork makes the dream work!” Instead of an index to capture heterogeneity in #Sjogren activity, the NECESSITY validated using data from 16 RCTs that a new composite tool, STAR has high sensitivity & specificity. Vital for use in RCTs @RheumNow https://t.co/ftx1uBP11A
🔍 Is #axSpA overdiagnosed locally?
IMPROVE-axSpA prosp study (n=969):
Yes!
Only 54% locally confirmed centrally
#OP0105 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/VqCPbbCHLB
💉 IXE+TZP beat IXE alone in obese PsA?
YES - TOGETHER-PsA RCT
33.5% vs 20.4% ACR50 at week 36 in 271 patients
OP069 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow
@DrLauraCoates @AlexisOgdie https://t.co/orvAe38alc
The first two days of EULAR 2026 have delivered a flood of new data, late-breaking science, and clinical insights. Don't spend hours sorting through hundreds of abstracts; RheumNow will do it for you.
Join Dr. Jack Cush and https://t.co/V10S4oVFsv faculty as they break down the https://t.co/eAPV6h5FAn
🔍 What defines a positive MRI for #axSpA?
SPARTAN-SSR consensus (n=1,050):
BME≥3 slices or 2/3 lesions in ≥3 SIJ quadrants
#OP0100 #EULAR2026 @RheumNow https://t.co/nfhzGxBZOm


