RheumNow Podcast – I Wanna New Drug.V2 (9.24.2021) Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com

1. Study of 435 #SLE pts seen during the pandemic. Comparing those seen F2F vs telemedicine, there was no significant difference in SLE disease activity (by SLEDAI-2K) or SLE flare rates or steroid prescribing between visit types https://bit.ly/39wWoQ6
2. Encouraging DBRPCT of Rituximab in #PMR: 116 screened, 49 enrolled, 47 completed: 23 on RTX vs 24 on PBO. Steroid-free remission at 21 wks seen with 11/23 (48%) RTX pts vs 5/24 (21%) on PBO (p=0·049). Infusion Rxns: 10 RTX vs 3 PBO); 1 SAE (PE) on RTX https://bit.ly/3lSI0rj
3. Pregnancies exposed to ixekizumab (from Eli Lilly Global Safety Database) found 193 pts with psoriasis, PsA, or axSpA who were IXE exposed. Live births reported for 53.8 and 61.1% of known outcomes. No congenital malformations seen. https://t.co/M1rvCH81hT
4. FDA approves Jakafi for chronic GVHD. Ruxolitinib (Jakafi, Incyte), an oral Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor, previously received approval for treatment of patients aged 12 years or older with steroid-refractory acute GVHD. https://t.co/isItDebNZ8
5. Retrosp. review of 10–24 yr olds w/ newly Dx #SLE shows 78% given steroid-sparing DMARDs by year 1; Most (69%) given HCQ & fewer (34%) given other immunosuppressants. Adults less likely to recv immDMARDs @1 yr https://t.co/aLi6FXlMd3
6. Case controlled study shows CPPD pts have no higher risk for MACE. 23,124 CPPD vs 86,629 non-CPPD, w/ >250,000 Pt-Yrs FU. CPPD MACE risk not increased (HR 0.98), but there was incr risk of MI, CVA & acute coronary syndr. https://t.co/pgmZBxTg9O
7. Trade names:  Generic PFIZER = Comirnaty; MODERNA= Spikevax Moderna;  J&J (pending)  https://t.co/MM7XiSCczl
8. Prospective study of 77 RA patients in remission --> vax w/ BNT162b2 (BioNTech-Pfizer) (w/ temp D/C of DMARDs per ACR) found a vaccine-related flare rate of 7.8% (6 pts) w/ 5/6 flares after 2nd dose (2.6 days), resolved w/in 2 wks https://t.co/YOL3YVS2ne
9. Dr. Calabrese shares his Delta COVID-19 breakthrough story on the blog today. https://t.co/timjB2YPys
10. BMJ Breakthrough infections from UK QResarch database: Among 6.95 million vaccinated, 74.1% recv two vaccine doses, there were 2031 covid-19 deaths & 1929 hosp admissions; ~4.0% deaths & admissions were >14 days after 2nd dose
    • Addendum: COVID deaths increased w/ age, deprivation, male, Indian & Pakistanis. Highest risk w/ Down’s syndr (HR 12.7), renal transplant (8.1), sickle cell (7.7), Nursing home (4.1), chemotherapy (4.3), HIV/AIDS (3.3), liver cirrhosis (3), CNS dz (2.6)
    • Addendum: Other conditions w/ a 1.2-2 fold higher risk of COVID death (admission) were CKD, hematologic cancer, epilepsy, COPD, CVD, stroke, atrial fibrillation, CHF, thromboembolism, PVD, type 2 diabetes. https://t.co/bbDsb1zLhX
11. Claims case-controlled study shows statin use does not increase the risk of #RA - 32,726 RA and matched controls ; statin use (34 vs 32%) slightly increased RA risk (OR 1.12, 1.06–1.18), but signif lost after correcting for hyperlipidemia https://t.co/EcTlyE1MPx
12. High Comorbidity Rates with Inclusion Body Myositis 
13. Guselkumab Treats Axial Disease in Psoriatic Arthritis 
14. 11 Drugs That Cause Arthritis  https://rheumnow.com/news/11-drugs-cause-arthritis
15. Viewer Question – A positive anti ds DNA in the absence of clinical evidence of lupus?