All News

kidney-147499_640.png

Deucravacitinib and Renal Function: Insights from the PAISLEY Trial

Akhil Sood, MD

In the phase 2 PAISLEY trial, deucravacitinib met its primary and secondary endpoints, demonstrating efficacy across multiple clinical and patient-reported outcomes. However, the impact on renal function has remained unclear. An abstract presented at ACR provides new insights.

Read Article
CART

Beyond malignancy, look out for LICATS with CAR-T

Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof, MRCP(UK), PhD

CAR T cell therapy took the centre stage in 2022 where data pertaining to a successful case series of 5 patients with refractory SLE were published by Prof Schett’s group. Since then, this area of therapeutic has expanded exponentially. Our growing enthusiasm was slightly dampened though when the FDA required all six approved CAR T-cell therapies in oncology to include a black box warning regarding the risk of second primary malignancies in January 2024. At ACR25, Prof Schett’s group described a new form of toxicity in patients with autoimmune disease receiving CAR T-cell therapy, most likely due to the cleansing of immune cells from the affected organs.

Read Article
B CELL DEPLETION

Taking a closer look: B-Cell depletion beyond the blood

Akhil Sood, MD

Following the landmark case series by the Erlangen group, multiple cellular therapies have entered the race—each with unique targets, constructs, and mechanisms. Yet, a fundamental question remains: How deep is the B-cell depletion? In clinical practice, peripheral blood counts often serve as our surrogate for depletion. But these may only tell part of the story.

Read Article
DPGN, lupus, nephritis, GN, glomerulonephritis, biopsy, kidney

Tacrolimus in Lupus Nephritis Management

Sheila Reyes, MD

Prof. Sandra Navarra and colleagues compared the efficacy and safety of tacrolimus and glucocorticoids vs. mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) as a continuous induction-maintenance treatment for class III/IV+V lupus nephritis.

Read Article
Cush and Kavanaugh

ACR 2025 Rheumatology Round Up

Jack Cush, MD

Drs. Jack Cush & Arthur Kavanaugh, two of rheumatology’s most trusted voices, provide a breakdown of the latest breakthroughs and hottest topics in rheumatology from the 2025 ACR Convergence meeting in Chicago.

Read Article
Off the Shelf: CAR-T Dr. Akhil Sood reports on abstract 0663 (iPSC-Derived Off-the-Shelf anti-CD19 CAR T cells Deliver Improved Clinical Outcomes in Lupus with Reduced or No Conditioning Chemotherapy) presented at#ACR25. https://t.co/mj4b5cCInC https://t.co/s34atFCMlx

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
The Decade Ahead: Predicting Long-Term Proteinuria Risk in SLE Lupus nephritis affects almost half of patients with SLE and conveys a mortality rate of up to 30% at 10 years, with at least 10-22% of patients developing end-stage kidney disease. Early detection and diagnosis are https://t.co/ggoA2KsqXg
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Belimumab Before or After Immunosuppressant Dr. Yuz Yusof reports on abstract 0803 presented at #ACR25 https://t.co/BVFhDDfTvW https://t.co/F9ZvGXIqVn

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Using AI and LLMs in Qualitative Data Dr. Bella Mehta discusses abstract 0794 (Using AI to Analyze Multilingual Qualitative Data in Lupus Pregnancy Research: A Proof of Concept with Large Language Models) presented at #ACR25 https://t.co/HFBuNxdZOF https://t.co/gKAXURq8xR

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Topline results of ALLEGORY study (Genentech) - 300 pt. phase 3 DBRPCT obinuntuzumab vs PBO in active SLE w/ SRI-4 primary outcome at wk 52. The anti-CD20, B-cell depleter, Rx met all efficacy endpoints primary and all key secondary endpoints. Gazyva was FDA approved last wk https://t.co/Wd6EFEjvGP
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
#ACR25 Abstract 1526 “Guidance for #Steroid Tapering in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus” 101 international experts reached Delphi consensus on CS tapering strategies in #SLE. 🔹 Practical guidance for real-world tapering across disease activity levels and organ involvement. https://t.co/GRlUz3Y3EP

Links:

Romatolog Nurullah_Akkoc ( View Tweet)
@Janetbirdope’s #ACR25 pearls remind us: Order ANA only when clinical suspicion exists Never repeat a positive ANA ENA only if ANA+ ❌ Ignore dsDNA if ANA– (except anti-Ro52) Stop serial dsDNA/C3/C4 if stable Smart lab use saves patients anxiety and systems money. #SLE https://t.co/Mu3EefcIx0

Links:

Romatolog Nurullah_Akkoc ( View Tweet)
Now published: The 2025 ACR Guideline for the Treatment of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus 📄 Read the paper: https://t.co/56eOK86lmn ℹ️ See additional content and resources on this guideline at https://t.co/PVEyOkY14w https://t.co/cR4RVfWPlI

Links:

ACR_Journals ACR_Journals ( View Tweet)
SLE Conference Preview: progress in biologics at #ACR25 We now have four licensed targeted therapies (i.e., belimumab, voclosporin and obinutuzumab for active lupus nephritis and belimumab and anifrolumab for active non-renal SLE). What are other issues to be addressed and https://t.co/uvVICAsCzo
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Lupus in Focus: 2025 ACR Treatment Guidelines for SLE Dr. Sheila Reyes reports on the scientific session presentation of the #ACR25 treatment guidelines for SLE https://t.co/Bh1fSFf8ju https://t.co/OH8h9GDeMf

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Day 4 Recap: ACR Convergence 2025 Highlights https://t.co/CMpbzc4O5x Great discussion by @EBRheum @AkhilSoodMD @Dr_Brian_MD . I have always been a FK fan in lupus nephritis as an add on therapy , the only inconvenience is regular monitoring. @RheumNow #ACR25

Links:

Nouf Al hemmadi NoufAhmedAlham2 ( View Tweet)

Prospective RCT on safety & efficacy of TAC+GC vs. MMF+GC TAC+GC was comparable to MMF+GC as continuous induction maintenance treatment over 96 wks for LN. AE rates comparable. TAC - AKI & tremor MMF - leucopenia reassuring data.more tx options. #ACR25 @RheumNow Abs2697 https://t.co/16Fd8zE5dL

Links:

sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
2465: Dual-target CD19/BCMA CAR-T in refractory SLE (Phase 1) 🔹All pts (n=10) met SRI-4 by wk24 🔹DORIS remission: 5 (wk24), 6 (wk36–48) 🔹Residual proteinuria (n=4); renal bx (n=3) showed resolved IC deposits & inflammation 🔹CRS Grade 1 (n=6); no ICANS @RheumNow #ACR25

Akhil Sood MD, MS AkhilSoodMD ( View Tweet)

#SLE #DORIS #remission is RARE and without #prednisone even rarer #ASIA #Pacific 5K pts over 10 yrs A call to do better 82% LLDAS, 70% remission, 31% GC-free remission (REM-0) at least once abst#595 @ACRheum @RheumNow #ACRBest https://t.co/OK6sYnqs81

Links:

Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
#Urinary #biomarkers #lupus #nephritis #Tenascin C -suggests repair, fibrosis, progress of #LN #IL16, #CD163, & more for LN activity Sometime a biomarker may replace repeat #kidney #biopsies? #AMP group #Accelerated #Medicines #Program #ACR24 @ACRheum @RheumNow abst#851

Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)

How well do you know this week's rheumatology news?
Take the rheumIQ quiz
Take the RheumIQ Quiz

×