Articles By Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof, MRCP(UK), PhD
Familial Mediterranean Fever mimics
Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is an inherited autoinflammatory disease characterized by recurrent attacks of fever and acute inflammation of the membranes lining the abdomen, joints and lungs. These attacks are often short-lasting, around 1-3 days.
Read ArticleDual target blockade may be better than one in SLE
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.
Read ArticleDoes Evusheld shield people living with rheumatic diseases?
While COVID vaccination and subsequent booster remain the cornerstone, pre-exposure prophylaxis such as Evusheld (tixagevimab and cilgavimab) has been approved by FDA in December 2021 and EMA in March 2022 for people immunocompromised either due to a medical condition or receiving treatment with immunosuppressants and may not mount an adequate immune response to COVID vaccination. How does this therapy fare in RMD patients?
Read ArticleWhat do our lupus patients think about treat-to-target?
In SLE, two targets that are increasingly used are the DORIS 2021 Remission and the Lupus Low Disease Activity (LLDAS). T2T is more likely to be successful if the treating clinicians and the patients set the treatment goals together. What do our patients think about T2T and do they have any say/concern?
Read ArticleThe Safety of Rituximab and JAK Inhibitors with post-COVID Vaccination
At the onset of the pandemic, data from the Global Rheumatology Alliance reported increased risk of poor severe COVID outcomes including deaths in patients who were treated with rituximab and baricitinib. With the vaccination program undertaken globally, has this risk been attenuated?
Read ArticleSLE trials update
Translating targeted therapy from bench to bedside has been more problematic in SLE than other autoimmune diseases, with many theoretically well-founded agents appearing to have failed in clinical trials as a result of inefficacy, problem with trial design and/or safety issues.
Read ArticleRisks associated with mortality in VEXAS
Vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic syndrome (VEXAS) took the centre stage when it was first introduced at ACR20 last year. It got everyone’s thinking that they might have encountered one or two patients in their rheumatology lifetime who might have this condition.
Read ArticleUpdate on Safety, Effectiveness of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines in SLE
It is almost a year since the Pfizer-BioNTech SARS-CoV-2 vaccine has been made available by the FDA under emergency use authorization (EUA). The question still being asked is whether the vaccine is safe for people with lupus?
Read ArticleEmapalumab for the treatment of macrophage activation syndrome
Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is a term commonly used by rheumatologists to describe a potentially life-threatening complication of systemic inflammatory disorders, most commonly occurring in people with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
Read ArticleRisks associated with mortality in VEXAS
Vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic syndrome (VEXAS) took the centre stage when it was first introduced at ACR20 last year. It got everyone’s thinking that they might have encountered one or two patients in their rheumatology lifetime who might have this condition.
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