‘Difficult-to-treat RA’ is an oft-used term that carries various clinical qualities and therapeutic disappointments. A EULAR Task Force was established to develop recommendations for the management of difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis and as a first step, have put forth their definition of this rheumatoid arthritis (RA) subset.

The interstitial lung disease that develops in a subset of patients with systemic sclerosis tends to be heterogeneous, with the majority of patients experiencing a slow pattern of decline in lung function, analysis of outcomes in the European Scleroderma Trials and Research (EUSTAR) database foun

Numerous previous studies have questioned the efficacy or protection afforded by hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for COVID-19 and studies have show that HCQ has failed when given as post-exposure prophylaxis to health care workers (HCWs).  A new randomized controlled trial has shown that HCQ failed when given as 8 weeks of pre-exposure prophylaxis in hospital-based HCWs exposed to patients with COVID-19 patients. 

The anti-interleukin agent romilkimab showed significant benefits on skin fibrosis among patients with systemic sclerosis in a phase II trial, researchers reported.

On Friday, Gilead and Galapagos announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for filgotinib (trade name, Jyseleca) their oral, once-daily, JAK1 inhibitor for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have resp

Lancet reports that in a randomized, blinded, controlled trial, gabapentin failed to significantly lower pain scores in women with chronic pelvic pain, and was associated with higher adverse event rates compared to placebo.

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and Journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.

In June 2020, we failed to report on the ARD publication updating the 2019 update the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) - these are presented below.

A phase II study of patients with early diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc) has demonstrated improvement in SSc skin outcomes by targeting T cells and fibrosis with the bispecific monoclonal antibody romilkimab (RMK).

JAMA Dermatology reports a claims-based, case-time-controlled French study of 9290 psoriasis patients suggesting that ustekinumab initiation may be associated with an increased risk of acute coronary syndrome or stroke in high risk cardiovascular patients.

Research from Oxford University suggests a potential pathogenic role for the chemokine CXCR3 and clonally restricted CD8+ T cells in the pathogenesis of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) based studies of PsA synovial fluid samples obtained by arthrocentesis from 11 patients with large-joint oligo Ps

Patients with RA have up to a three-fold increased risk of mortality versus the general population, largely due to an increased incidence of premature CVD, such as atherosclerosis and heart failure.

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

There has been little science or evidence regarding the effects of COVID-19 infection on pregnancy and vice versa; and now the recent MMWR addresses the subject with two new reports