B Cell Depleters (2.21.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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Effectiveness of IL-6 Receptor Inhibitors versus Methotrexate or any Conventional Immunomodulators in Patients with Steroid Refractory Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Sponsored by Sanofi
https://t.co/I2T8xhS9hb https://t.co/bZcT7g6AWZ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Effectiveness of Interleukin-6 Receptor Inhibitors versus Conventional Synthetic Immunomodulatory Therapy for Treatment of Frail Patients with Polymyalgia Rheumatica
Sponsored by Sanofi
https://t.co/bmLPgOhSMQ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
US nationwide claims data study of CV outcomes (MACE) in #RA based on b/tsDMARD (n=34375) exposures (71% TNFi, 10% JAKi, 8% ABA, 5% RTX, 5% IL-6i). Compared to TNFi, RTX (HR 1.5) & IL-6i (HR 1.3) had numerically higher, but not statistically significant, MACE risk.… https://t.co/GXunfMY3US https://t.co/XYZPt0kzGE
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
#Benralizumab vs #Mepolizumab
both work for #EGPA
Which to use? 🤷♀️
perhaps some advantage of more steroid sparing w
Benralizumab?
? JAKi ?long acting #IL5i
#RNL2025 @RheumNow https://t.co/UkthHpNRIq
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
@UnaMakris #RNL25 @RheumNow
Older patients w RA
1/3 of pts onset >60-65
- More acute onset, more systemic, more PMR-like, larger jts
- Higher IL-6, lower TNF-a, less RF, higher ESR
-Co-morbidities, polypharmacy, cognition, depression
Age does not equal frailty, but does correlate https://t.co/5qb60WyKkP
Eric Dein @ericdeinmd( View Tweet )
Drug Naming Games (2.7.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, regulatory and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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A 3rd Actemra biosimilar was approved by the FDA - Celltrion announced approval of its 7th biosimilar, Avtozma (CT-P47, tocilizumab-anoh); both IV & SCm for Rx of RA, GCA, pJIA, Still's dz & Covid-19. Joins other IL-6 biosimilars Tofidence (Biogen 10/23) & Tyenne (Frensius 3/24)… https://t.co/UtG9YOXUX2 https://t.co/j3LzG7beys
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Lung Involvement in Still's Disease
A multicentre registry observational study assessed lung involvement in a cohort of Still’s disease patients, affirming pleuritis as most common and that parenchymal lung inflammatory disease is very uncommon in both children and adults.
A total of 90 Still's patients with lung
ICYMI: VITAL Info on Autoimmune Disease (2.9.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Highlights are summarized by three songs: "Stairway to Heaven", "You're No Good", and "How Long (has this been going on)".
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Overview of Uveitis management of adult & pediatric rheumatology.
- Uveitis accounts for 10% of visual impairment globally
- TNF inhib are effective; w/ IL-6 inhib as 2nd line options https://t.co/fwhTxEpVG0 https://t.co/cKGdcDbz3d
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )
Best of 2024: Efficacy of Biologics in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
A retrospective cohort study of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) persistence in rheumatoid arthritis patients with chronic kidney disease, shows the 3 year survival to be under 50% but that all studied biologics were nearly equivalents with regard to safety and efficacy
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Bah Humbug Vitamin D (12.20.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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Tocilizumab Efficacy in Giant Cell Arteritis Phenotypes
A Spanish Collaborative Group study of Tocilizumab (TCZ) in Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) demonstrated high efficacy regardless of the different vascular phenotypes treated.
Multicentre study of 471 GCA patients treated with TCZ, assessed outcomes according to vascular
Don’t Buy Guitars (12.6.2024)
This year at ACR24, the RheumNow faculty and reporters were prolific, generating >800 Tweets, 56 written articles, 117 Videos and 28 podcasts – all in 4 days! You can best review and learn ACR24 by A) Rheumatology Roundup; b) Topic Panel videos; and c) Topic podcasts.
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RA-ILD in the Spotlight at ACR 2024
Over the past 5 years, there has been growing interest in RA-ILD due to its relative prevalence and severity. This seems to be one of the few RA outcomes not improving much, even with the advent of expanded treatment options. There is also a shocking lack of trial data. This year, there were two
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JAKs and Other Drugs in PMR
This has been an interesting ACR meeting in terms of PMR updates. I would argue that we are still far too wedded to glucocorticoids only in the management of PMR. Yes, some patients will do fine with just glucocorticoids but we persist far too long with a glucocorticoid only strategy in others
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I've shared some thoughts on @RheumNow on methotrexate, tocilizumab, and baricitinib in PMR based on #ACR24 https://t.co/WXiW1nLN4k
Richard Conway @RichardPAConway( View Tweet )
A#2531 @AlisaMueller
CRISPR deletion of fibroblasts, gave cytokine activation to mimic inflamm
Are there gene depletions that affect inflamm pathways?
👉SIX1 reduces inflamm potentiation
👉NFIL3 deletion promotes inflamm, degradation
@RheumNow #ACR24 https://t.co/Nqghb5UaBR
Links:
Eric Dein @ericdeinmd( View Tweet )
Comparison of infection risk across b/tsDMARDs in IA in real-world study
Treatment with
➡️Rituximab
➡️JAKi
➡️Anti-IL6
assoc with ⬆️⬆️ risk of severe infection compared to TNFi
A reminder to consider comorbidities & infection risk in selecting b/tsDMARDs
Ab1716 #ACR24 @RheumNow
Mrinalini Dey @DrMiniDey( View Tweet )
Chevet et al. What happens when you withdraw tocilizumab after 6 months in PMR? Follow up of SEMAPHORE study. 80.8% relapsed! Median time to relapse 15 weeks. @RheumNow #ACR24 Abstr#1698 https://t.co/9pJ88C05V2
Richard Conway @RichardPAConway( View Tweet )
Is #IL1 inhibition for 4 months a winner in #GCA —NOPE
Anakinra daily 100mg sc 4/12
Underpowered but equal relapses and d/c #steroids not different
#relapses esp after d/c #anakinra
N=30 d/c due to #COVIDpandemic
#1699 #ACR24 @RheumNow @ACRheum https://t.co/1TgloS5x8O
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
When you stop 🛑 #TCZ #tocilizumab at
6 months of #Rx in #PMR
RELAPSES are V high
DON’T stop #Toci in PMR too
Early
Rapid and frequent flares
#ACR24 @RheumNow @ACRheum #1698 https://t.co/IX5EJOcIY5
Janet Pope @Janetbirdope( View Tweet )
Race of b/tsDMARDs in RA, the “JAK-pot” study.
JAKi and TNFi with more rapid early improvement in CDIA, HAQ, and pain compared to ABA or IL-6 inhibitors…..although effects blunted after adjusting for patient and RA characteristics
#ACR24 @RheumNow ABST#0501 https://t.co/8M4wX3LAbW
Jiha Lee @JihaRheum( View Tweet )
Harkins @DrTrishHarkins et al. 1 year outcomes of 65 PMR patients treated in FTC. 32.7% experienced relapse, 28% still on GCs, 21% on tocilizumab. @RheumNow #ACR24 Abstr#0739 https://t.co/uYBYhPqGQE https://t.co/n9x9BDTPKg
Links:
Richard Conway @RichardPAConway( View Tweet )
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