The emergence of large language models (LLMs) represents a promising shift in how complex diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are communicated and interpreted across both patient and clinical settings. Two EULAR 2026 abstracts highlight the evolving role of LLMs across this spectrum, from patient-facing education to diagnostic reasoning.

Much of the meeting came for the next CAR T readout. AB-101 drew attention for a different reason. It depletes B cells by a completely different route.

Across EULAR 2026 abstracts this year and presented in a session called “this is a woman’s world”, strong signals are emerging that the menopausal transition is associated with changes in disease phenotype, disease activity, and treatment response in both RA and PsA.

B-cell targeting has moved to the centre of IgG4-related disease treatment, with inebilizumab, a CD19 depleter, as the recent benchmark. At EULAR 2026, INDIGO tested whether the disease can be controlled by switching B cells off rather than depleting them.

Systemic sclerosis is a rare connective tissue disorder characterised by autoimmune features with vascular manifestations, causing fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. EULAR is focused on systemic sclerosis as the rheumatic disease with the highest morbidity and mortality. New data presented at the EULAR 2026 Congress underscore key complications, and offer hope for a possible new therapeutic strategy.

CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy has rapidly moved into autoimmune disease, driven in large part by striking reports in SLE, where sustained drug-free remission has raised the possibility of a true immune reset. In RA, where multiple effective therapeutic classes already exist, the relevance of such deep immune interventions remains uncertain.

Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) are a heterogenous group of autoimmune conditions with substantial morbidity. EULAR in collaboration with the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) introduced classification criteria for the major subgroups in 2017,1 but there is a need for contemporary real-world data to understand the burden – and well as new ways of assessing disease activity.

Presented at EULAR 2026 London, Brepocitinib dual TYK2/JAK1 inhibitor with successful Phase 3 VALOR trial demonstrating significant improvement in skin and muscle symptoms in dermatomyositis (DM).

Glucocorticoids are the cornerstone of initial vasculitis treatment, used to rapidly control inflammation and protect vital organs. EULAR has recommendations that cover glucocorticoid use in ANCA associated vasculitides (AAV) and large vessel vasculitis, including giant cell arteritis (GCA).1,2 But the evidence base continues to grow about their use – especially over the long term.

EULAR works with the network of national organisations of People with Arthritis/Rheumatism in Europe (PARE) to ensure the voices of people with RMD are heard and have influence – creating powerful alliances that make a real difference. Artificial intelligence is another potential ally in that fight. At the EULAR 2026 Congress in London, work was presented from three PARE initiatives that showcase how digital tools can be used in treatment

People with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMD) are at risk of a number of comorbidities, from cardiovascular diseases to cognitive impairment and fractures. The 2026 EULAR Congress showcased new data and ideas around various comorbidities and drug safety issues in people with an RMD – highlighting the need for integrated care. Here are five abstracts to consider.

Over 70% of patients with PsA struggle with excess weight, amplifying synovio-entheseal inflammation and blunting biologic response. The rapid uptake of GLP-1RAs in rheumatology has raised an urgent mechanistic question: are clinical gains in PsA driven purely by weight reduction, or do these agents carry intrinsic anti-inflammatory properties? EULAR 2026 offered six abstracts that together illuminate, without fully resolving, this question.

A substantial portion of patients seen in rheumatology clinics are now older adults living with multimorbidity, polypharmacy, frailty, cognitive impairment, functional limitation, and competing health priorities. This week at EULAR 2026 in London, the EULAR Study Group on Geriatric Rheumatology holds its inaugural meeting. The launch marks an important step for a field that has been visible in clinical practice, but less visible in professional