Articles By Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof, MRCP(UK), PhD
ANCA-associated vasculitis: beyond therapy with rituximab?
Following the success of Phase 3 randomised controlled trials of non-renal and renal vasculitis, therapy with rituximab has tremendously improved the outcomes of AAV patients. However, some patients are unable to taper their glucocorticoids during rituximab therapy while others appear to be refractory to therapy, particularly those with EGPA. Hence, what are other current or future approaches beyond rituximab?
Read Article
Targeted therapies in Sjogren’s syndrome: are we close?
There is a clear unmet need for new and effective therapies in primary Sjogren’s Syndrome (pSS) patients, as there are no current licensed therapies.
Read Article
Promising new therapies in SLE
The pharmacology treatment in SLE is a rapidly expanding field of research that provides excitement and optimism to both the patients and the clinicians. We now have three licensed targeted therapies (belimumab and voclosporin in active lupus nephritis and anifrolumab in non-renal SLE) over the last 3 years compared to one therapy (belimumab in non-renal SLE) in the previous 50 years. What are other promising therapies on the horizon?
Read Article
Tight control of proteinuria in newly diagnosed lupus nephritis
Since reduced proteinuria at one year is the best predictor of improved long-term renal outcomes in lupus nephritis, is there rationale to set a tighter treatment target?
Read Article
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 Article
Dual 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 Article
Does 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 Article
What 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 Article
The 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 Article
SLE 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 Article