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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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💊 SGLT2i vs GLP-1 in Lupus Nephritis
TriNetX evaluating the impact of GLP-1 agonists vs SGLT-2 inhibitors on outcomes of lupus nephritis
📊 GLP-1 use linked to better renal & CV outcomes in LN including:
⬇️ CKD progression
⬇️ Mortality
⬇️ Acute MI
@RheumNow #ACR25 https://t.co/v4LgKFDt68
Akhil Sood MD, MS AkhilSoodMD ( View Tweet)
#ACR25 Abstr#803 We need more data to justify biologics before conventional immunosuppressant in #SLE. Post-hoc analysis of 5 Phase 3 RCTs = improved efficacy & GC reduction in BEL+No IS vs PBO+IS. Potential selection bias as control group might be doomed to fail @RheumNow https://t.co/kXmrOUbJzj
Links:
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof Yuz6Yusof ( View Tweet)
#0793 In #SLE, abusive trauma was linked to 58% higher risk of medication non-adherence; resilience buffered this effect. Patients with trauma cited motivational, not access-related, barriers. Trauma-informed & resilience-focused care may improve adherence. @RheumNow #ACR25
Mrinalini Dey DrMiniDey ( View Tweet)
#0794 LLMs can accelerate qualitative lupus pregnancy research. Using AI to translate & analyze interviews from Portuguese, GPT-4 achieved top accuracy & coherence vs human themes. LLMs may expand inclusion & equity in rheum research. @RheumNow #ACR25 https://t.co/TAxg6Qyk0L
Mrinalini Dey DrMiniDey ( View Tweet)
Nice SRMA evaluating HCQ dosing
>5mg/kg associated w/3.8x risk of retinopathy...
...but <5mg/kg associated w/1.8x risk of SLE flares
Morbidity from one of those is easily avoided by regular screening; morbidity from the other can be devastating
@RheumNow #ACR25 Abstr#805 https://t.co/1vJXxXqiRC
Mike Putman EBRheum ( View Tweet)
What is #nonadherence in #SLE associated with?
115 Pts w #lupus in Spain
Overall medication adherence 58%!
👇Reduced if
Male
Low education
No partner -NS adjusted analysis
Unemployed
Comorbidities
3 or more drugs/pills -NS adjusted
#ACR25 @RheumNow @ACRheum
#abst0216 https://t.co/CkG6gpiCw3
Janet Pope Janetbirdope ( View Tweet)
CE study BEL vs csDMARDs in TriNetX
Mortality ~3-4% for MTX/AZA/MMF vs ~1.5% for BEL, ~50% reduction in adjusted analysis
Pretty surprising given mediocre results from BLISS RCTs, but strong research group & lotsa fancy stats
Do you believe it?
#ACR25 @RheumNow Abstr#0804 https://t.co/Yex98EYDjP
Links:
Mike Putman EBRheum ( View Tweet)
#ACR25 Abstr#802 In #SLE pts with CLASI-A ≥8, pooled post-hoc analysis of Phase 2 RCT showed enpatoran, oral small molecule toll-like receptor 7/8-i impoved cutaneous response vs PBO as early as WK4. First-in-class promising therapy & warrant investigation in Phase 3 @RheumNow https://t.co/rn6NXdiGjD
Links:
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof Yuz6Yusof ( View Tweet)
What is my risk of developing proteinuria?
Hopkins Lupus Cohort developed a risk score predicting 10-year risk of new-onset proteinuria after SLE dx (n=1,418)
@RheumNow #ACR25 https://t.co/Z0zPrG2NJ3
Akhil Sood MD, MS AkhilSoodMD ( View Tweet)
#ACR25 Abstr#801 Post-hoc analysis of Phase 2 RCT showed longer duration on Ianalumab (IAN) is beneficial. More #SLE pts achieved LLDAS or DORIS remission and GC taper in IAN in blinded 28-wk phase + open label IAN for the next 24-week group vs PBO-Open Label IAN @RheumNow https://t.co/I1Ugfj3BBl
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof Yuz6Yusof ( View Tweet)
A retrospective study from Spain assessed the relationship bet HPV infxn & biologic tx in SLE pts
🔅 Prevalence of HPV 9.9%
🔅 No significant assocs bet HPV infxn, biologic tx, SLE-related dse variables & HPV RF progression
Still, emphasize HPV screening
#ACR25 @RheumNow Abs0659 https://t.co/1YusM1nYPr
sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
Redefining When to Biopsy the Kidney in Patients with SLE # Petri et al. ACR 2025 - Lupus nephritis may be seen in lower proteinuria too (69%)
Happy to share similar results from our study-Padiyar S, As C, Gowri M, Mathew J. Lupus. 2024;33(13):1511-1517.
@RheumNow
Dr Shivraj Padiyar DrPadiyar ( View Tweet)
FDA Approves Obinutuzumab for Active Lupus Nephritis
The FDA has approved obinutuzumab (Gazyva) for the treatment of lupus nephritis. This is good news for the more than 1.7 million people worldwide with lupus nephritis.
https://t.co/Wr3tG5izCi https://t.co/P8A5PUCIX0
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
#ACR25 Beyond blinatumomab, A-319, CD3xCD19 BiTE in 12 patients with #SLE in China reported dose-dependent depth of B-Cell depletion but not efficacy or safety. One withdrew due to AE. No CRS/ICANS. Be interested to see results in larger trials & longer follow-up @RheumNow https://t.co/e5RuZlFI6i
Links:
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof Yuz6Yusof ( View Tweet)
After propensity matching, this retrospective cohort study showed that #lupus nephritis patients on GLP-1 agonists had ⬇️ CKD progression, mortality & AMI risk vs. LN pts on SGLT2is.
Interesting data but what could explain it? Further studies are needed
#ACR25 @RheumNow Abs0841 https://t.co/FtsGbMDcCv
sheila RHEUMarampa ( View Tweet)
#ACR25 Abstr#645. Dapirolizumab, anti-CD40L-i met primary endpoint, BICLA in Phase 3 RCT non-renal SLE. Key secondary endpoints showed higher rates of & time in LLDAS and remission in DAP vs PBO. Meaningful targets re: damage accrual & better longterm outcomes @RheumNow https://t.co/IxesXhi34R
Links:
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof Yuz6Yusof ( View Tweet)
#ACR25 Abstr#641 Phase 1/2 CASTLE Basket Trial fully recruited N=24 (10 SLE, 9 SSc, 5 IIM). Short-term data of autologous CD19-CAR T
Zorpocabtagene-autoleucel/MB19.1:
- 22/24 high degree efficacy
- no relapse
- no high grade CRS/ICANS
*Need larger Phase prior approval @RheumNow https://t.co/sp1nieeCvl
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof Yuz6Yusof ( View Tweet)
Abstract 0806
Compared to belimumab, Anifrolumab associated with:
↑ infection risk b (HR 1.40, 95% CI 1.05–1.88)
↑ herpes zoster (HR 3.94) & COVID-19 (HR 1.66)
No diff in mortality or hospital use
📈 3-yr infection: 38.3% vs 21.3%
@RheumNow #ACR25
Akhil Sood MD, MS AkhilSoodMD ( View Tweet)
Real world effectiveness of voclosporin for SLE
Reduction in UPCR from 2.1 at b/l to 0.9 at 6 months, no improvement in eGFR; as expected based on trials
Wonder about market share of BEL vs voclo vs ANI - anyone seen pubs on this?
#ACR25 @RheumNow Abstr#0661 https://t.co/l7i7IWhLSe
Mike Putman EBRheum ( View Tweet)
