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ACR Convergence 2025 Sheds Light on Disparities, Age-Related Trends, and Epidemiology in Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases
ACR Press Release
At ACR Convergence 2025, new research explored critical disparities and epidemiologic trends shaping outcomes in autoimmune rheumatic diseases across diverse populations and age groups. Studies presented at the meeting highlighted issues ranging from kidney transplant outcomes in lupus to medication disparities in rheumatoid arthritis and demographic patterns in systemic sclerosis and axial spondyloarthritis.
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2 year extension data from SELECT-GCA:
Patients in remission who remained on upadacitinib 15mg daily after 1 year had 90% reduced risk of flare compared to those who switched to placebo
Higher rates zoster, CK elevation in UPA group
#ACR25 @RheumNow #ACRBest https://t.co/jf8Dh2wCBj
Brian Jaros, MD Dr_Brian_MD ( View Tweet)
The differential diagnosis for CNS vasculitis is BROAD. Keep in mind it’s mimics @RheumNow #ACR2025 https://t.co/ASWr6zm5eQ
Gabriela Martinez Zayas, MD MartinezZayasMd ( View Tweet)
Where do patients find informations about their RMD?
Study of 705pts
-80% search engines via smartphone 80.3%
Different pattern within 2 yrs of diagnosis vs. later stage:
-more frequent 19% vs 8%
Most users find online content -understandable 80%
-apply it in daily life 68% https://t.co/9IMvpt2ffr
Links:
Aurelie Najm AurelieRheumo ( View Tweet)
Rheumatologists love AI scribes in clinic.
The way we interact is potentially well suited, and accuracy and synthesis quality is bound to improve. Is it inevitable that it will universally be standard practice for us soon?
UCSF clinics #ACR25 @JYazdanyMD ABST0189 @RheumNow https://t.co/kOzfpLlvgD
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
PD-1+ effector memory T cells in PsA synovium are functionally active and regulate Th17 cytokines via STAT3/RORγt. Recombinant PD-L1 agonist significantly reduced T cell proliferation and IL-17A/F/IL-22 production highlighting checkpoint agonists as a novel therapeutic strategy https://t.co/I6eNa0j7aa
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) synovialjoints ( View Tweet)
Two Jacks, One mission 🤓
Head on to the booth and get a chance to meet either one of them (both if you’re lucky, like me!)
Continue tuning in for coverage of #ACR25 by the @RheumNow faculty and KOLs https://t.co/Y2pS8CpoH5
sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
Urinary proteomics reveals promising biomarkers for ankylosing spondylitis. PIK3IP1 & SDC1 levels were significantly elevated in AS patients, showing strong diagnostic performance (AUCs: 0.852 & 0.875). Combined with AMY1A, the multiplex panel reached an AUC of 0.973. Abstract https://t.co/YUulKFqj8V
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) synovialjoints ( View Tweet)
The benefits of exercise has been proven for most rheumatic diseases, and there are lots of good reasons why
#ACR25 Brian Andonian @RheumNow https://t.co/IEErXL6ynL
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
New biomarkers 14-3-3η multiplex autoantibody assay improves axSpA diagnosis, especially in HLA-B27– patients. Combined with CRP & HLA-B27, detection rose to 99% (training) & 91.4% (evaluation). In HLA-B27– cases, 14-3-3η lifted detection to 70.6% & 55%. Abstract 0531 @RheumNow
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) synovialjoints ( View Tweet)
#Cancers esp #hematologic & #lung are ⬆️in Pts w #inflammatory #rheum #diseases
Odds ratios of hem malignancies are wide
& risk stratification is imp
Are we doing a good job?
🤔skin cancer screening ??- not as per general standards
Abst#0172 #ACR25 @RheumNow @ACRheum https://t.co/Uve9knXD3o
Links:
Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
Do you believe that patients w #rheumatic #diseases flare if #extreme #weather?
Even 90 days after extreme weather events flares occur - loss of power, heat’ med storage = ++stressful events
Is it early flare from weather & then ++stress
@RheumNow @ACRrheum #ACR25 abst#0164 https://t.co/pGPwOKrKU7
Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
Why do pts with #Still’s #AOSD
Get hospitalized?
#Sepsis
1827 unweighted & 9135 Weighted #US #hospitalizations
Worse in
men
Black
Medicaid
But is it truly #infection or Still’s flare or both?
Abst#0163
ACR25 @RheumNow @rheumacr
#ACRBest as largest N ever! https://t.co/fLMNyQQNNj
Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
Using ChatGPT to diagnose axSpA, in 10 low back pain cases, it outperformed clinicians in diagnostic precision (75% vs. 60%) and sensitivity (85% vs. 80%), completing the task 5x faster. Specialty framing (e.g., Rheum vs Neuro) didn’t affect accuracy. Abstract 0530 @RheumNow https://t.co/YMMC4XIX9m
Antoni Chan MD (Prof) synovialjoints ( View Tweet)
Phenotypes of GCA:
Pt dx by PET compared to TA biopsy were:
- younger
-longer disease before dx
-more frequent extremity claudication (still overall low)
-less cranial / TA sx
@RheumNow #ACR25 Abstract 0759 https://t.co/ilwa3eYmRq
Brian Jaros, MD Dr_Brian_MD ( View Tweet)
Cool study using vasculitis patient-powered reserach network (VPPRN)
"SNOT-22" tool captures sinonasal symptoms; associated with disease activity (expected) but also worse among pts even in remission
Very important impacter of QOL in AAV
#ACR25 @RheumNow Abstr0725 https://t.co/NQBW8VnYFS
Links:
Mike Putman EBRheum ( View Tweet)
No seasonal pattern in GCA!
We have also looked at this in our data and similarly found no trends
It sure feels like GCA comes in waves, but data does not bear this out
#ACR25 @RheumNow Abstr#0754 https://t.co/4y2elYmCRT
Mike Putman EBRheum ( View Tweet)
Accdg to this retro analysis of their prospective cohort study from Toronto, 47 pts (10%) had D2M axSpA of whom 14 had tx-refractory dse.
D2M pts - longer symptom duration; ⬆️ASDAS, BASDAI, BASMI, BASFI & ⬆️CRP
💡Consider non-dse factors in D2M pts
#ACR25 @RheumNow Abs0547 https://t.co/MUUyyELbw8
sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
Real-world T2T strategy from MONITOR-PsA cohort:
🎯 At 48 weeks - 33.6% (49/146) of pts achieved PASDAS 'moderate' response & 37% (54/146) achieved a 'good' response
This was close to the T2T outcomes of the TICOPA trial
Adapt a T2T approach in PsA tx
#ACR25 @RheumNow Abs0572 https://t.co/FPiFIiO8Oe
Links:
sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
RheumNow’s expanded coverage of the #ACR2025 annual meeting is sponsored by Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, and UCB. All coverage content is independently selected by RheumNow and its faculty.
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
