A recent metanalysis assessed the comparative efficacy of current first-line pharmacologic antiinflammatory interventions for gout flares and surmised that canakinumab and intravenous or intramuscular corticosteroids are superior to  nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs [NSAIDs].

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.

One-third of patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases being treated with methotrexate showed attenuated responses to the COVID-19 vaccine, researchers reported.

The Swedish Register compared outcomes of 1502 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients initiating either biologics plus methotrexate (MTX) or triple therapy (MTX plus sulfasalazine plus hydroxychloroquine/chloroquine) and showed similar rates of sustained remission.

A large prospective cohort study examined the comparative risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and found that, methotrexate (MTX), abatacept (ABA) and TNF inhibitor (TNFi) use were associated with a decreased risk of CV events. 

Analysis of data from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance shows that rheumatic diseases infected with COVID-19 had a greater risk of death with age, comorbidities, high disease activity and few specific therapies.

Dr Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com

Patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis who were being treated with ustekinumab (Stelara) had lower rates of serious hospitalized infections than patients receiving other biologics or small molecule therapies, a study utilizing data from two commercial claims databases found.