News
Shedding Weight and Pain: The Promise of Anti-Obesity Medications in RA
With the advent of FDA-approved anti-obesity medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, a new avenue for managing this challenging patient population has emerged. But how might these drugs impact the trajectory of RA, and are we on the cusp of a paradigm shift?
JAKi in inflammatory myositis?
Abstract 1731 is a small RCT of baricitinib in inflammatory myositis comparing early start baricitinib to later start.
Where there’s smoke, there’s flare: how pollution fuels RA
Associations between air pollution and disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis have previously been demonstrated. Abstract 0978 sought to determine the association between fire smoke and other pollutant exposures with the risk of RA and RA-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD).
Say Goodbye to Methotrexate in PMR?
For decades, glucocorticoids (GCs) have formed the backbone of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) management.
Health Literacy: the forgotten social determinant of health?
Nine out of ten adults in the USA struggle to understand basic health-related information. Across the pond, in the UK, 7.1 million adults read at, or below, the level of a nine-year-old, with 60% unable to understand health information. An increasing body of research in rheumatic diseases has sought to understand the impact of health literacy, long neglected as a social determinant of health, on clinical and non-clinical outcomes. Several abstracts at this year’s ACR Convergence focus on this topic.
JAK inhibitors in GCA?
The SELECT-GCA study, looking at upadacitinib in GCA, anchored the ACR 2024 opening plenary for a reason - it is highly notable and badly needed.
Beyond the Needle: Redefining the Assessment of Lupus Nephritis
Lupus nephritis is one of the most silent and severe manifestations of SLE. When not captured early, patients are at high risk of progressing to end-stage renal disease, which would require dialysis or transplantation. Renal biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis and disease classification. However, the procedure is invasive and very painful. Non-invasive measures are critical for early detection and continuous monitoring.
Taking CAR-T for a Test Drive
When the ACR Convergence 2024 abstract site went live, the first query I typed into the search bar was, “CAR-T.” I consider myself a CAR-T skeptic and would be surprised if the magical results from this NEJM case series replicate at scale, but it seems likely that CAR-T will revolutionize the care for (some) patients with rheumatic diseases. What new data will be presented at ACR?
Are Emulation Trials a Fantasy?
Are emulation ‘trials’ helpful, despite the biases that occur with observational data, or do they truly mimic the results of randomized controlled trials (RCTs)?
ACR 2024 - Day 1 Report
ACR Convergence 2024 opened today with a full slate of presentations, posters and specialty meetings. The meeting began with a flip: the plenary sessions started at 9AM and the poster session began at 1030 AM. Below are some of the highlights from day one in Washington, DC.
