News
Difficult-to-Manage AxSpA: Global Prevalence and Associated Factors
The concept of Difficult-to-Manage (D2M) axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a recent development, with the first expert consensus definition published by the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis International Society (ASAS) earlier this year. This unified definition has stimulated a wave of new research globally, with multiple studies analysing D2M axSpA in diverse clinical cohorts.
Secukinumab promise in PMR is real
Choice is not just good, it is often necessary, and secukinumab promises just that in both PMR and GCA.
Late-Onset Disease: Different Age, Different Rules?
We’re seeing more patients develop rheumatic diseases for the first time in their 60s, 70s, or beyond. But are these truly the same diseases we see in younger adults, or do they behave differently, shaped by age-related biology, comorbidity, and the biases that influence medical decision-making? Several abstracts presented at EULAR 2025 challenge us to reconsider how we diagnose and treat rheumatic disease in older adults.
SLE Preview: advances to achieve deep B-cell depletion
The race is on for the first chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-based therapy to be approved for the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus. Its main principle is to induce deep B-cell depletion, with the hope to reset the B-cell aberrant immunity for a sustained clinical remission. At EULAR 2025 in Barcelona, several advances of CAR-based therapies will be presented.
Intraarticular IL-1Ra Gene Therapy in Knee Osteoarthritis
De la Vega et al. have published in Science Translational Medicine the efficacy of an IL-1Ra gene therapy in adults with knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Transcranial Stimulation is Effective in Fibromyalgia
A randomized, controlled clinical trial in fibromyalgia (FM) has shown the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (A-tDCS) (along with exercise and pain neuroscience education [PNE]), in alleviating the pain.
Secukinumab Use in Refractory Giant Cell Arteritis
In 2023, the phase 2 TitAIN study showed that the effectiveness and safety of secukinumab in 52 patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) who had an inadequate response to tocilizumab.
2025 EULAR/ACR Risk Stratification Criteria for At-Risk Arthralgia
A collaborative EULAR/ACR expert panel has established criteria for arthralgia patients at risk (clinically suspect arthralgia) to progress to chronic rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
MTX Fails Knee OA (6.6.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com
HLA-B27 Testing in Practice
Analysis of testing for human leukocyte antigen B27 (HLA-B27) in a teaching center shows HLA-B27 testing was frequently performed by rheumatologists and nonrheumatologists for a broad spectrum of indications and primarily as a screening test.
