The Last Word on JAK Inhibitor Safety & 1133 Study (1.28.2022) Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.  This week a trifecta of Gout reports and the last word on the ORAL Surveillance study...

1. From 1969 hospitalized COVID Spanish pts (46% F, age 61), 31 pts w/ preexisting RMD -- they did not have more long-term post-COVID sxs (OR 1.46; 0.89–2.4), functional limitation (OR 1.058), anxiety, depression or MSK pain vs non-RMD https://t.co/IYJz5zFoLe
2. 819 rheumatic disease pts surved about Telemedicine (TM), available to most (75%). Satisfaction was 7.3/10 w/ 26% very satisfied. Pts preferred TM for routine visits (73%), test results (65%), med changes (41%); but less so for new Injx meds(19%) https://t.co/W8newba0FV
3. FREED study (asympt hyperuricemic without gout) showed febuxostat x 24 mos did not alter carotid atherosclerosis, but at 3 years, (Substudy of 1004 pts), showed FEB signif lowered risk of CVA, CV, renal events and death (vs PBO) https://t.co/BS4wiIaYZv
4. DECT scanning for MSU deposits in the vasculature of 6 cadavers w/ Gout (2 tophaceous) did not demonstrate MSU crystal deposition in vessels, but did show MSU in the joint (positive control) and MSU in joint aspirates by polarizing microscopy  https://t.co/y5SoRcmqoR
5. Allopurinol Safety in CKD Patients 
6. MMWR reports >40,000 pregnant women who received COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy- VAX not associated with preterm birth or small-for-gestational-age at birth overall compared with unvaccinated pregnant women. https://t.co/FIdJ29cOl7
7. UCB announced positive top-line results from Phase 3 BE COMPLETE study, bimekizumab, in active psoriatic arthritis, who failed TNFi. Bimekizumab pts showed a 50% ACR50 at week 16, as well as signif improvements in PASI90, MDA, PGA https://bit.ly/3tK9sNp
8. RheumNow Live - Join the discussion on March 19-20, on site or virtually!  An exceptional experience for exceptional Rheums   RNL2022 – where you comment, rate, rank    https://t.co/RfWz53vem3 https://t.co/9n1UzFrkVb
9. Who’s going to ACR in 2022? 174 rheumatologists voted: 20% are going to ACR/Philadelphia, 24% planning for virtual, 43% undecided and want the hybrid option.  14% do not plan on consuming ACR 2022.
10. Actemra Shortage - Yesterdays RheumNow Live Vote survey of 170 Rheumatologists, showed that 74-80% of Rheums are reporting shortages of IV tocilizumab (Actemra) -- TCZ listed by FDA site as a drug in shortage largely due to demand, Genentech says there is supply 
11. MMWR: Booster Vaccine Efficacy in Immunosuppressed Patients 
12. Risk vs. Benefit Lessons from the ORAL Surveillance Study