EULAR has published the 2023 updated recommendations for the optimal non-pharmacological management of hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA).

Drs. Caroline Siegel and Lisa Sammaritano (from HSS in NYC) have published an impressive overview of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in JAMA. This timely, well-written review covers the many complexities of this multi-organ disorder that affects nearly 3.4 million people worldwide.

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and regulatory announcements from the past week on RheumNow.com.

A study from the University of British Columbia has evaluated the trajectories of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) use in patients with incident RA and SLE between1997 and 2021, and identified factors associated with high adherence. 

This meta-analysis of psoriasis treatments shows that biologic therapies may be less effective in certain psoriasis (PSO) patients, particularly those who are older, smokers, with higher BMI an prior exposure to biologics.

A multicenter cohort study of systemic lupus erythematosus patients with type 2 diabetes has shown the use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors associated with a significantly reduced risk of lupus nephritis, dialysis, kidney transplant, heart failure, and all-cause mortality compared with no SGLT2i use.

JAMA reports a cohort study that investigated the association between methotrexate (MTX) use and Interstitial lung disease (ILD) in patients with dermatomyositis (DM).

Drs. Artie Kavanaugh and Jack Cush discuss highlights from the EULAR 2024 meeting in Vienna

The final day of EULAR 2024 was rich in posters, Late-breaking oral presentations and EULAR updates and recommendations.  Below is a synopsis of the half-day's action.

A clinical trial in early axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) demonstrated sustained inactive disease status in over 60% of patients.

The development of JAK inhibitors represents an advance for the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic diseases. However, the enthusiasm in using this target has waned since the publication of the ORAL surveillance clinical trial in 2022. Subsequently, both the FDA and EMA issued a warning on using JAKi in patients with certain risk factors, e.g., ≥65 years, at increased risk of MACE, current smoker or past smoker and at increased risk of cancer, should other alternative treatment be available. So, how has this warning impacted on JAKi development and use?

On the first day of EULAR 2024, I am debating Janet Pope.

Just about every Medicare Part D prescription drug plan on offer this year covers the original version of adalimumab (Humira), whereas only about half will pay for any of the several biosimilar versions currently approved, researchers found.

Dr. Jack Cush reviews FDA approval, news and journal articles -- and it’s the week before EULAR 2024 in Vienna!!

A Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor outperformed tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers for substantially reducing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) symptoms in patients for whom conventional anti-rheumatic drugs had failed, a pragmatic head-to-head trial found.

For patients with the auto-inflammatory disease VEXAS, treatment decisions are unfortunately fraught with tradeoffs between effectiveness and risk of adverse effects, a French registry study showed.

The Lupus Research Alliance (LRA) is proud to announce that nine international researchers are the recipients of this year’s Lupus Innovation Award (LIA).