VEGA - The Efficacy of Combination Biologics in Ulcerative Colitis
A novel trial has shown that combination biologic therapy (guselkumab plus golimumab) to be more effective in ulcerative colitis than either biologic alone.
News
Sarilumab is FDA Approved for PMR
Yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved sarilumab (Kevzara) for the treatment of adults with active, refractory polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), stipulating it is indicated in those patients who have had an inadequate response to corticosteroids or who cannot tolerate corticosteroid taper.
Psoriatic Arthritis: Depressing News on Second- and Later-Line Treatments
MedPage Today
Most patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) failed to achieve low disease activity after switching from one targeted therapy to another, real-world data from Scandinavian registries indicated.
Treat-to-Target Guidelines for GCA and PMR
The Annals of Rheumatic Disease has published updated multinational, treat-to-target (T2T) recommendations for the treatment of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).
Phase 3 Trials of Baricitinib Disappoint in SLE
Despite the encouraging phase II trial results of baricitinib in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, two parallel phase III trials have failed to redemonstrate the efficacy of baricitinib in active SLE, thereby halting development of baricitinib in SLE.
An Alternative Pain Protocol Following Knee Replacement Surgery
EurekAlert!
A study led by Vinod Dasa, MD, Professor of Orthopaedics at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, reports that a novel surgical pain management strategy following total knee arthroplasty (TKA), or total knee replacement, provided pain relief without opioids.
The Late Edition (2.24.2023)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com
Periodontal Mucosal Breaks Trigger RA Disease Activity
Periodontal disease (PD) is more common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially those with anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs). RA activity has been linked to the severity of PD and mucosal inflammation.
Which Meds are Best for Acute Low Back Pain?
EurekAlert!
Acute low back pain (LBP) is a common cause of disability. An analysis in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research examined which non-opioid drugs are best for treating this condition.
New Drug Formulations – For Patients or Profits?
Wang et al., in a JAMA Network Research Letter, recently reviewed Medicaid expenditures on adalimumab (ADA), sold under the brand name HUMIRA®. They noted that the introduction of the citrate-free formulation cost an extra $4.4B to Medicaid between 2014 and 2021.
Heavy Metals and the Risk of Arthritis
The etiology of arthritis was studied using US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data and suggested that elevated concentrations of trace elements (TE: Pb, Cd, and Cu) were associated with increased risk of arthritis.
Specific ACPAs and Autoantibodies Lead to RA-Associated ILD
A BRASS registry study shows that specific isotypes of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) can be associated with incident rheumatoid arthritis-associated ILD (RA-ILD).
