A new treatment for AxSpA that has come on the scene are JAK inhibitors. In clinic, considerations for JAKi use are body mass index, smoking status, prior use of biologics and patients with high inflammatory states such as high CRP and inflammatory change on MRI scan of the spine and sacroiliac joints. There are further studies at #ACR22 which help answer these questions.

A Japanese large scale claims data study was able to collect 5-year data to study the treatment patterns in Still’s. In May 2019, intravenous tocilizumab was approved in Japan for Still’s disease. The study was designed to see patterns of steroid exposure before and after the approval of this therapy.

Type I interferon (IFN) is a powerful immune activator that is present at high levels in the majority of patients with lupus, an autoimmune disease.

Despite a wealth of treatment options, a number of notable unmet needs remain in PsA, most notably the significant diagnostic delay that many patients endure. We are all aware that those with psoriatic skin disease are the most at risk cohort for PsA. Identifying patients with psoriasis who have, or are at increased risk of PsA, appears to be the low hanging fruit that we just can’t fully seem to grasp.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact worldwide particularly among those who are immunocompromised. Numerous studies have highlighted the increased risk of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with rheumatic diseases (RD). Public health measures including masking, social distancing, and vaccination have helped to lower the risk of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in this population.