Male vs. Female Responders (4.15.2022) Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal Reports from the past week on RheumNow.com - including fellowship COVID-19 concerns, the limits of T2T in gout and the real odds of RA remission with your first biologic. 

1. Downward Effects! Real world data from 22,934 UK #RA pts starting 1st b/tsDMARD shows DAS remission/LDA achieved in 17% following 1st line, 13% 2nd, & 8-13% with 3rd thru 6th DMARD. (LDA in 29% 1st line, 23% 2nd, 17–22% 3rd thru 6th) https://t.co/cZt0BvhK6I

2. Comparison of Tofa, ADA, PBO in OPAL #PSA studies - median time to HAQ response better for Tofa & ADA (30d) vs PBO (>112d), but Tofa had faster Fatigue response (31 vs 90+D). MDA response time same between Tofa v ADA #PSAlways https://t.co/f48Of7bEjN

3. Males respond better than females? Ixekizumab trials in #PSA - 676 pts in Two Phase 3 RCTs - females had lower response rates than males in all measures (ACR20/50/70; MDA; DAPSA) F had ⬆️HAQ, enthesitis, but ⬇️CRP https://t.co/Om8CwbmlgN

4. The value of COVID Vaccine after COVID infection - Vax Effx after COVID=445% after 2 doses & 58% after booster during Delta COVID. During Omicron, 35% effect after 2 doses and 68% after a booster dose - best protection conferred by booster https://t.co/VXi70r2nS3

5. Copenhagen study of COVID & Rheum disease (AIRD).  COVID+ AIRD  pts have 10x more hospitalizations (7% vs 0.7%); Only RTX assoc w/ COVID hosp (adj OR 14.6); IgG Abs increased if AIRD pt hospitalized https://bit.ly/3uEpj0a

6. NPF COVID-19 report from AAD mtg shows #PSA pts on systemic Rx were not at risk of hospitalization or severe COVID-1 based on US claims data. Also TNFi, IL-17, IL-23 Rx not affect on Vax Ab responses; less hosp (36%) w/ TNFi https://t.co/ekvu0mMvrn

7. SLE study from BC, Canada shows that among 3062 incident #SLE patients 96% received antimalarial (AM) Rx with only 40% adherent. Over a 6.4 yr F/U, 242 (8%) died. AM adherence was assoc w/ a 71% and 83% lower risk of death https://t.co/S9LsDaSZNx

8. Retrospective study of 1144 consecutive inflammatory myositis (IIM) pts shows a 2.3% risk of venous thrombolic events. 54% of VTE occurred within 6 mos of IIM Dx. Predictors included malignancy, infection, longer steroid use , higher Dz activity https://t.co/DCH4Iuy2FS

9. Cell has a novel analysis using single-cell analysis of skin/blood from 56 controls & 97 diffuse systemic sclerosis pts, finding stromal abnormalities in LGR5+-scleroderma-assoc fibroblasts (ScAFs). ScAFs are decreased early & progressively https://t.co/Khxejd1fnq

10. No Benefit to More Intensive Urate Lowering in Gout 

11. ACR Fellow Training Subcommittee Report on Pandemic Experiences