Research work from the Accelerating Medicines Partnership (AMP: RA/SLE) Network, was published in Nature and more specifically characterizes RA synovium into several cell-type abundance phenotypes (CTAPs). Could CTAPs known disease features or more effective future therapies? 

The American College of Rheumatology's (ACR) has published a preview of new research from ACR Convergence 2023 showing that AI and a deep learning system could accurately identify and predict joint space narrowing and erosions in hand radiographs of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Routine hand and foot radiographs in more than 700 patients being evaluated for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) made almost no difference in diagnosing the condition nor in predicting its course, Dutch researchers said.

A study of nearly 80,000 US veterans who underwent primary knee joint arthroplasty (TKA) showed  the incidence of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) was highest in the first 3 months and remained elevated through 12 months compared with 12 months or more after surgery.

The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) expressed concern that the conversion factor included in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) CY 2024 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program final rule is insufficient to address rising inflation.

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

JAK inhibitors are known to increase the risk of herpes zoster infections between between 3-5 fold.  Two recent reports suggest variable efficacy when JAK inhibitor (JAKi) treated patients are vaccinated with the recombinant herpes zoster subunit vaccine (RZV). 

Safety risks found in a postmarketing trial with the Janus-associated kinase (JAK) inhibitor tofacitinib (Xeljanz) appear to have influenced prescribing patterns across the class for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in the Veterans Affairs (VA) health system, researchers found.

A JAMA systematic review and meta-analysis has showed the use of JAK inhibitors (JAKi) in immune-mediated inflammatory skin diseases was not associated with increased risk of all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), or venous thromboembolism (VTE) (compared to the placebo

The treatment of de Quervain tenosynovitis (DQT) was examined  by systematic review in JAMA, suggesting that local (US-guided) corticosteroid injection plus a thumb spica immobilization was associated with significant pain-relieving and functional benefits. 

Over the past year we have implemented a fast track clinic for PMR at our institution in Dublin. Patients are referred predominantly from primary care, and we aim to see patients within a one to two week window. Without a doubt, patient outcomes are far superior with the instigation of the fast track clinic as part of our service.

Another infliximab biosimilar has been FDA approved, but this new version of Inflectra can be given subcutaneously for patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Dr. Jack Cush reviews RheumNow's top entries the PMR Campaign, news, journal reports and regulatory actions.

Among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), high titers of anti-phospholipid (aPL) antibodies were most prevalent in whites and Latinos and less so for Black and Asian individuals, researchers found.

When we are considering a diagnosis of PMR, it is key to evaluate the patient accurately and efficiently. Can we use a synchronous audiovisual visit or a rheumatology eConsult to evaluate the patient's symptoms quickly? Does it allow us to make an accurate diagnosis? I would argue that for most of these cases we indeed can. 

Dr. Jack Cush discusses the news, journal articles and regulatory actions. This week we discuss JAKne, DLE and SLE and more.

UCB announced today that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved bimekizumab-bkzx (Bimzelx)) for the treatment of moderate to severe plaque psoriasis in adults who needing systemic therapy or phototherapy.