All News
How Age of Onset Affects Giant Cell Arteritis
MedPage Today
Giant cell arteritis (GCA) has a different phenotype when diagnosed late in life compared with earlier onset, a large Italian cohort study indicated.
Read ArticleInternational Consensus on ANCA-Associated Vasculitis with Glomerulonephritis
Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation has published an overview of the management of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody associated vasculitis with glomerulonephritis based on several international guidelines, including those frorm the ACR 2021, EULAR 2022 and KDIGO 2021 (Kidney Disease: Improving
Read ArticleAllergic Drug-Induced Arthritis (5.19.2023)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. This week we delve into some odd associations, repeat drug warnings and the consequences of antirheumatic therapies.
Read Article
Do we use too much PNL in GCA (when not using TCZ)? Could we wean quicker?
Salvarini group n=22
26w PNL weaning protocol from GiACTA, but no TCZ
10/26 in relapse free remission at 1y
Much less PNL, still some steroid AEs
Way of the future for some?
POS0728 #EULAR2023 @RheumNow https://t.co/qeZHeCi9vq
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
#EULAR2023 #OP0007 What are the recent trends of autoimmune disease (AID)? A database study (22m) in UK showed:
- 1 in 10 people had AID in the last 20yrs
- socioeconomic, seasonal & regional disparities cd influence pathogenesis
- CTD (SLE,pSS,SSc) tended to co-occur @RheumNow https://t.co/3DDPR2K5NC
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof Yuz6Yusof ( View Tweet)
Autoimmune disease diagnoses slowly on the rise, despite reduced smoking - but that’s now 10% of the population, & many patients have more than one. Most are lifelong.
Surely this needs more investment??
CPRD data from the UK #EULAR2023 OP0007 @RheumNow https://t.co/7NGF5YaE9z https://t.co/m6SaibqmEq
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
Watch: GPA Treatment Choices
https://t.co/9v6C5nOLqu https://t.co/1E347ulsvR
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
"Ideally, you should get your TA biopsies within 2 weeks, but that's not always possible. Don't delay tx." @anisha_dua reminds us that bx can still be positive up to 8 weeks after steroid initiation. Just be aware of lesional changes with time. #RNL2023 https://t.co/uYBNrGzdQm https://t.co/Rvs0ewHzwb
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Dr. Anisha Dua on Imaging in PMR:
- US of shoulders to eval for bursitis can increase specificity
- MRI better for pelvic girdle, but expensive
- Consider PET if lack of response to steroids, r/o malignancy
#RNL2023 @RheumNow https://t.co/tjhGlJPDWZ https://t.co/9h1FwfM0CP
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Avacopan in GPA
- non-inferior to prednisone for induction remission
- received FDA approval for treatment of severe active GPA in combo with standard therapy and steroids
- should be used in newly diagnosed active or relapsing disease
@rheumnow #RNL2023 https://t.co/My6M5MGBl1 https://t.co/0aPFUeE55Q
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
How to long for maintenance of GPA?
Continue for 24 months, then consider:
Relapse history? Organ damage? Toxicity? Patient wishes? Compliance? Family planning?
Dr. Langford @RheumNow #RNL2023 https://t.co/tFn2p5DfJV https://t.co/Uu4Fmans40
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Carol Langford #RNL2023 @RheumNow
Rx options for GPA showed by targeted to patient's disease characteristics of severe vs non-severe disease
CYC not for non-severe due to toxicity
MTX, MMF not for severe disease https://t.co/jw3wq2k7gb https://t.co/y3ck6KuCDj
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
"Highest pre-test probability for GCA is actually:
1) Limb claudication
2) Jaw claudication
#RNL2023 @RheumNow https://t.co/Ed52fIcVaI" https://t.co/dA1FlCEU3i
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
GCA biopsy: When and How
Early is best, rec'd in first 2 weeks. Findings can be present at 8 weeks but be less prominent
@anisha_dua rec's unilateral imaging in most pts, especially w scalp tenderness on one side
>1 cm length
#RNL2023 @RheumNow https://t.co/Pn25Qt0WL4 https://t.co/5qROaTbD2w
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Dr. Spiera's approach to PMR treatment
- prefers methylprednisolone
- rapid taper over 16 weeks
- consider GC sparing therapy (MTX, IL-6i)
@Rheumnow #RNL2023 https://t.co/LR9e0aXkeN https://t.co/qXUBkz5vfe
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
SAPHYR, presented at #ACR22, unpublished
Robert Spiera at #RNL2023
Phase 3 study for refractory PMR
Sustained remission of disease, less steroids usage, steroid toxicity, and improved PROs
@RheumNow https://t.co/oQJV7gUV3W https://t.co/S1LRBT55Qn
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
IL-6 for PMR
SPARE and SEMAPORE (Toci), SAPHYR (Sari)
2/2023: FDA approves sarilumab for PMR for inadequate response to corticosteroids or unable to taper off
Robert Spiera @RheumNow #RNL2023 https://t.co/VtzW01Ez7D https://t.co/P6oUQvmDXH
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Evidence-Based Guidelines for EGPA
Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare form of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, affecting between 10 and 14 cases per million globally.
https://t.co/VixECcPv4R https://t.co/XgEHRgDiPj
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
DMARDs/TNF for PMR:
MTX- initial benefit, but no 5 year steroid sparing effect
Infliximab - no benefit
Lef - some benefit in case series
Robert Spiera #RNL2023 @RheumNow https://t.co/d7BpmxFfct https://t.co/jLJDPuMtD3
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Is there role for MTX in GCA
Favorable results in a meta-analysis with NNT 11 to prevent 1 cranial relapse
BUT: limitations of meta-analysis, short follow-up, dose response not evaluated
Robert Spiera at #RNL2023 @RheumNow https://t.co/lucAWypvr7 https://t.co/W604xXesaI
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)


