Patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) related to systemic sclerosis continued to see less progression when treated with nintedanib (Ofev) in the pivotal 100-week SENSCIS trial, researchers said.

Mitochondrial constituents and metabolic products may give rise to immune activation; this is especially true for mitochondrial DNA, which can function as damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) leading to inflammasome activation. DAMPs and pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) are primary drivers of inflammasome activity.

Placebo responses are to be expected in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) clinical trials, but are such placebo responses affected by continuing background DMARDs like methotrexate (MTX) even though there was an inadequate response (IR) to MTX? 

An open-label, 2 year study evaluated the efficacy and safey (drug retention) of subcutaneous (SC) abatacept (ABA) in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and showed superior responses when ABA was given to biologic-naive and seropositive RA patients. 

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the new studies and drug approvals and new insights into febrile disorders from the past week on RheumNow.com Ustekinumab (IL-12/23i) phase 2 study was successful in #SLE; but the phase 3 LOTUS study of 512 pts, UST was NOT superior to PBO (SRI-4 44% v 56%) at 1 year. Study was halted for lack of efficacy (but no safety concerns). https://bit.ly/3RvPzDm

A cohort study suggests that rituximab (RTX) use among patients 75 years and older with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)–associated vasculitis (AAV) is efficacious but also has a high risk of serious adverse events, likely related to associated steroid use and the advanced age of the population.