Reported safety signals, at odds with the efficacy of these medications, have left rheumatology clinicians in a difficult position when considering when during a patient’s treatment course and in which patients, specifically, JAKi should be used. Two abstracts from ACR convergence 2024 further contribute to our understanding of this potential risk profile.
All News
Article
Article
Highlights from Day 3 at ACR24 included the plenary session presentation on Nipocalimab (previously reviewed), but the big highlight was the Lupus Nephritis guideline recommendations.
Article
This has been an interesting ACR meeting in terms of PMR updates. I would argue that we are still far too wedded to glucocorticoids only in the management of PMR. Yes, some patients will do fine with just glucocorticoids but we persist far too long with a glucocorticoid only strategy in others who clearly need an alternative as glucocorticoid adverse events multiply.
Ab2674 #ACR24
➡️Most pts starting 1st-line TNFi, who didn't achieve treatment response at 3M, also didn't achieve response from months 3-12
➡️1/4 pts achieving LDA/remission at 3M were no longer in LDA/remission at 12M
@RheumNow https://t.co/pFOo86tJTx
Antoni Chan MD (Prof)
Tweet
Late breaking abstract L17
CAR-NK Therapy for Refractory SLE.
In a trial of 20 severe SLE patients:
- 75% achieved LLDAS, 50% achieved DORIS remission at 6 months
- B cell reconstitution: 2–3 months post-treatment
- Safety: 2 mild cytokine release syndrome with fever; no severe… https://t.co/MS8cutm48o
Bella Mehta
Tweet
🚨 New SLE treatment update! 🚨 Dapirolizumab pegol (DZP), novel CD40L inhibitor, for moderate-to-severe lupus. Phase 3 trial, DZP reduced disease activity, helped taper steroids, and achieved a higher BICLA Safe and generally well tolerated! #ACR24 #L16 @rheumnow https://t.co/lFrKjz4CZ1
sheila
Tweet
In this study by Dr CArriens et al, there was no difference between the vaccine response to Influenza by either HAI or Ab levels in Anifrolumab-treated pts.
AEs - mild, moderate
No serious aEs
💉#vaccinate your pts on anifrolumab with influenza
@RheumNow #ACR24 abs2424 https://t.co/XPwlzUS02i
Antoni Chan MD (Prof)
Tweet
Mortality Risk After Stopping Glucocorticosteroids (GC) in RA.
In a study of 28,078 RA patients:
Mortality risk from CVD ↑ 7.5%/year of GC use; ↓ 1.3%/year after stopping.
Mortality risk from infections ↑ 6.8%/year of GC use; ↓ 4.9%/year after stopping.
Risks normalize 1.5–10… https://t.co/i6cKet1EEV https://t.co/ClMjIly20E
Antoni Chan MD (Prof)
Tweet
VACIMRA Study showed timing matters for Methotrexate and Pneumococcal Vaccine in RA.
RA patients vaccinated with PCV13 1 month before MTX initiation had higher responder rates at 1 month:
88% (ELISA) vs. 75%
96% (OPA) vs. 88%
At 12 months, responses remained stronger in… https://t.co/bSbIazsRtG
Brian Jaros, MD
Tweet
Hydralazine - known culprit of drug-induced AAV
How does hydral (H) AAV differ from primary (1) AAV?
💥 High dual positivity MPO/PR3
💥 DAH / pleuritis more common in H-AAV
💥 ENT, constitutional, nervous, ILD in 1-AAV
💥 More 6mo remission in H-AAV
@rheumnow #ACR24 Abst 2496
Bella Mehta
Tweet
Severe thrombocytopenia (TP) is rare but linked to major organ involvement and poor prognosis in #SLE. Data from the RISE registry shows TP in 9.3% of SLE patients, with higher prevalence in males, African-Americans+ those with multiple comorbidities.
#ACR24 @RheumNow abst#2680
sheila
Tweet
In prelim analysis of this controlled clinical trial, SLE pts w/ active dse who weres given addtl NAC for 3 mos had significantly reduced dse activity.
Mechanism? NAC reduces rapamycin (mTOR) activation.
Common AEs: nausea, vomiting
@RheumNow #ACR24 abs2677 https://t.co/E4w2Qd7RwP
sheila
Tweet
LEVI-04 a novel neurotropin3-i showed:
-significant analgesia across all measures
-improvement in functional measures and PGA for all doses in a Ph2 RCT
- well tolerated
Hopefully will prove to be a therapeutic option for knee #osteoarthritis in future
@RheumNow #ACR24 absL15 https://t.co/kWsyyyGxyU
PHOENYCS GO, RCT of dapirplizumab, novel CD40Li in SLE
Met primary endpoint (NNT~6 for BICLA) & numerical improvements in many other endpts
1 MI & 1 death from infection over 213 pts
Encouraging for sure! Second phase 3 being launched
#ACR24 @RheumNow Abstr#L16 #ACRbest https://t.co/QwDMKjhFvb
Janet Pope
Tweet
#MDA5 #dermatomyositis assoc #ILD
May do better w
#tofacitinib vs #CNI in 515 pts
Too bad they didn’t do a pragmatic RCT as we do t know the reasons for prescribing each #Rx
But impressive survival w #tofa
#ACR24 @ACRheum @RheumNow abst1736 https://t.co/HLJknSYcNJ
David Liew
Tweet
Lot said about #ACR24 ABST1697:
MTX in newly diagnosed PMR, neg RCT
Many have said no hope for MTX in PMR now
Agree doesn't bode well
However, MTX may still have role in established PMR
@drceowen & I have made that call a priori @TheLancetRheum https://t.co/ywCJc0zHzC
@RheumNow https://t.co/JUXk2tDNyR
Janet Pope
Tweet
It is NO LONGER a ACCEPTABLE
To NOT consider
#MMF or #Cyclo + another proven #Rx
Added to
#HCQ and #tapering /limiting #glucocorticoids
RCTs in #lupus #nephritis support this
? Is which to add
#belimumab
#CNI #volclosporin
#obinutuzimab
#ACR #ACRbest @RheumNow @ACRheum https://t.co/a7WMFfCyXl
Richard Conway
Tweet
TNFis preventing cancer compared to placebo, and JAKi being neutral to placebo and maybe preventing haem cancers also. #ACR24 abstract 0989 was certainly provocative. I've shared my thoughts on @RheumNow https://t.co/yQFoUGifEN
Potential Impact of Weight Loss Drugs in Rheumatic Diseases
Dr. Arthur Kavanaugh highlights a session regarding weight loss and improvement in disease outcomes, specific weight loss drugs (SGL-2 and GLP-1), along with downsides when patients stop these medications. Reporting… https://t.co/Ilu2FXK2xi https://t.co/7CKSnfuey4
Eric Dein
Tweet
A#2651
Vasculitis w VEXAS
81 men, median age 67 - 27% had evid of vasculitis, variable size vessel
22% SVV- 17/18 cutaneous, one peritubular capillaritis on renal bx
2.5% MVV (2 cutan), LVV (2 carotid thickening, 1 had +TA bx), ANCA+
@RheumNow #ACR24 https://t.co/puablIBLCP


