Secukinumab (Cosentyx) was effective for axial manifestations of psoriatic arthritis in a 52-week multicenter phase III study, investigators reported.

JAMA has published a clinical update of recent studies on GCA. While PET/CT scanning are novel means of demonstrating activity, they have not changed the diagnostic approach to GCA or PMR and although there are no new proven treatment strategies for PMR beyond glucocorticoids, the FDA has approved tocilizumab as a first-line glucocorticoid-sparing agent. 

Here's a review of ten abstracts and presentations on spondyloarthritis encompassing a wide range of topics from etiology to diagnosis to treatment.  

Ultrasonography has been added to the rheumatologist’s toolbox in recent years as a sensitive imaging modality in assessment of inflammatory arthritis but its relationship with tender or swollen joints is not quite clear. A large study of early, DMARD naive PsA patients shows that swollen joints, but not tender joints are associated with ultrasound power doppler synovitis.

The prospect of automating hand x-ray scoring reliably has always been an enticing one, and data presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2020 suggest this might be in reach in the near future – opening up the prospect of automatic x-ray scoring