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For TNF Response in RA, Weight Matters
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were obese were significantly less likely to remain on treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors -- but so were those who were underweight, a large, long-term study determined.
Compared with patients with normal weight, patients in obesity class II, whose body mass index (BMI) was 35 to 39.9, had a hazard ratio for shorter drug survival (i.e., the drug's effectiveness, safety, and tolerability) of 1.28 (95% CI 1.06-1.54), while those in obesity class III, whose BMI exceeded 40, had a hazard ratio of 1.67 (95% CI 1.29-2.18), according to Sytske Anne Bergstra, PhD, of Leiden University Medical Center in the Netherlands, and colleagues.
Steroids and Tocilizumab in Cytokine Storm Syndrome
A recent study from the Netherlands has shown that patients with severe COVID-19-associated cytokine storm syndrome (CSS) with high dose steroids and tocilizumab had a faster recovery, less need for invasive mechanical ventilation and fewer deaths when compared to CSS patients receiving supportive care only.
They studed COVID-19 patients with CSS, defined as rapid respiratory deterioration plus at least two of the following biomarkers: a) C-reactive protein >100mg/L; b) ferritin >900 µg/L; or c) D-dimer >1500 µg/L.
Risankizumab Outduels Secukinumab in Psoriasis
The IMMerge trial has demonstrated the superiority of interleukin (IL)‐23 over IL-17A inhibition adults with plaque psoriasis.
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RECOVERY Trial: Dexamethasone in COVID-19
Inflammatory events following infection with SARS-CoV-2 can often worsen the morbid or mortal outcomes with COVID, yet it has been unclear if glucocorticoids may modulate inflammation-mediated damage and lung injury. The RECOVERY trial reports that dexamethasone (DEX) use lowered 28-day mortality among COVID-19 patients requiring respiratory support.
The RECOVERY trial was performed in the UK and enrolled hospitalized COVID-19 patients who were randomly assigned patients to usual care alone or the addition of oral or intravenous dexamethasone (at a dose of 6 mg once daily) for up to 10 days. The primary outcome was 28-day mortality.
Meloxicam Superior to Placebo and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in Knee OA
Pain management in knee osteoarthritis (OA) is confounded by studies showing less is equal to usual standards of care. A recent trial showed that meloxicam was superior to placebo or cognitive behavioral therap (CBT); although the differences were small.
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Retrospective cohort of 147 Adult-Onset Stills Dz pts finds 18 (12.3%) with lung dz (LD) at the diagnosis of AOSD. AOSD-LD were older, w/ more myalgia, LN, pleuritis, ab,dominal pain, more systemic Dz, higher ferritin and more mortality (%39 vs 10%). https://t.co/2phEFwi6n2
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Mohammad A. Ursani MD, RhMSUS DrMAUrsani ( View Tweet)
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