RA-ILD takes centre stage

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Interstitial lung disease is common in RA, occurring in approximately 8% of RA patients. It is associated with a poor prognosis, and a median survival of 3 years. This important condition has often been neglected within the spectrum of RA research. That is changing, with excellent research initiatives presented at ACR22. I am going to highlight two select abstracts from Monday’s dedicated RA-ILD session.

Sleep Quality & Psoriatic Arthritis

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For people living with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), the comfort of a good night's sleep may feel out of reach for many.

Methotrexate + pegloticase increases response rates in gout

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In abstract 0001 presented at ACR22 Convergence, researchers presented 12-month data from a randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of pegloticase with or without MTX.

Dual target blockade may be better than one in SLE

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Inhibition of B-cell Activating Factor (BAFF) has revolutionised the treatment of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. However, outcomes of therapies within the same class (i.e. BAFF-inhibitor) when evaluated in randomised controlled trials have been inconsistent.

ACR Best Abstracts - Day 3

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The last day was jammed with important reports and research including the late breaking abstracts. 

 

The spicy topic of turmeric in rheumatoid arthritis

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Curcumin, the active constituent of turmeric extract, has increasingly been promoted as a potential rheumatoid arthritis therapy, but data presented at ACR22 suggests that even in ideal situations, it is unable to do any better than placebo in replacing conventional RA therapies.

The complexity of opioid use in spondyloarthritis

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A few things we know about opioids: use is common; it’s not efficacious in the treatment of spondyloarthritis; and, there is an opioid epidemic and its users are stigmatized. Abstract 0402 is a retrospective study that looked at patients with psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis in the FORWARD databank. It sheds new light and leaves us with some food for thought

ACR22: Polymyalgia Rheumatica in the Spotlight

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One of the enduring legacies of ACR 2022 for me will be the emphasis on polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR). Despite being highly inflammatory and relatively common, a remarkable paucity of trials have been run in this space. Read on for a quick PMR-roundup from the meeting! 

Think Before You Order: Choose Wisely

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Early in medical training, we are taught diagnoses are made 90% of the time based only on the history and physical exam of the patient; laboratory tests play a minor role. When ordered, tests are used as evidence to support the diagnosis already made by the physician.

Thinking Outside the Box: Novel Strategies for Early Detection of AxSpA

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Strategies to identify patients with suspected inflammatory back pain in the general population is critical for timely and proper diagnosis.

Dual inhibition of IL17A and IL17F in AxSpA

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A new target for treatment in AxSpA is the dual inhibition of IL17A and IL17F (IL17A/F). IL17A is a key driver of the inflammation in the AxSpA and Psoriatic Arthritis (PsA). IL17A and its structurally related IL17F share biologic functional properties. Inhibition of both cytokines (IL17A/F) should result in a greater clinical benefit in AxSpA and PsA than IL17A inhibition alone.

Do different genders experience PsA differently?

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There has been a lot of talk lately about the difference in the way male and female PsA patients experience their disease.  Are the differences only cultural or are there important clinical differences in the disease presentation, organ involvement and complications that physicians should be aware of?