Lana Pine

Both patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) and those at-risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) had a significantly different oral microbiome when compared with a control group. Most notably, the pro-inflammatory discriminative zero-radius operational taxonomic units (zOTUs), Prevotella and Veillonella, were much more prevalent in these groups than in patients with no history of autoimmune conditions.

Patients with oligoarticular psoriatic arthritis (PsA) receiving apremilast monotherapy fared better than those who initiated methotrexate (MTX) therapy or biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) initiators.

Patients receiving csDMARDs had a significant reduction (40%) in non-serious infection (NSI) risk when compared with biologics.

Poorer results were associated with lower socioeconomic status (SES) and not being able to access telehealth, which emphasizes the need for access to healthcare and attention to vulnerable populations, such as those with rheumatic diseases, during the pandemic.

While men with inflammatory arthritis drink significantly more alcohol and have less severe disease activity, alcohol is not linked to disease remission.

A UK-based study indicated that patients with RA were more likely to have severe COVID-19 outcomes, including death. However, patients with gout did not appear to have an increased risk.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Rheumatology Network's highlights from the week ending April 30, 2021.

The SPIN-CHAT Program was developed by investigators in order to help participants deal with isolation and learn better mental health coping mechanisms.

“In this large, multiethnic, single-center, cohort study of children born to anti-Ro antibody positive mothers, the child’s ethnicity was not associated with NLE risk, nor specific NLE manifestations,” stated investigators.

This week, Rheumatology Network sat down with Philip J. Mease, MD, to discuss his study, “Comparative effectiveness of guselkumab in psoriatic arthritis: results from systematic literature review and network meta-analysis.”

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Rheumatology Network's highlights from the week ending April 23, 2021.

While further studies are needed, the results indicate that resolving the SDoH issues, via programs like the iCMP, may decrease healthcare costs while equalizing care and outcomes for both patients with SLE and those with complex chronic conditions in general.

Long-term administration of rituximab may be associated with more severe COVID-19 outcomes, including intensive care unit (ICU) admission or death, especially for those with other comorbidities.

Rheumatology Network sat down with Rebecca Manno, MD, MHS, to discuss the American College of Rheumatology State of the Art (ACR SOTA) Clinical Symposium, which ran from April 9-11.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Rheumatology Network's highlights from the week ending April 16, 2021.

As a part of our partnership with CreakyJoints, Rheumatology Network sat down with Lauren Gelman, Director of Editorial Services, for the Global Healthy Living Foundation. CreakyJoints is a support, education, advocacy, and research organization for people living with arthritis and rheumatic disease.

Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) treated with guselkumab resulted in higher percentages of resolved enthesitis by Week 24 and maintained those results through 1 year when compared with a placebo.

This week, Rheumatology Network sat down Brad Marder, MD, co-author of the study, Pegloticase Therapy in Gout Patients Undergoing Dialysis: A USRDS Database Study. Data suggests that pegloticase is successful in the treatment of dialysis patients with uncontrolled gout with potentially lower ESA dose requirements after treatment.

While incidence rates remained stable throughout the study period, incidence rates in females increased 3% per year between 2000 and 2017. The increase was seen primarily in women 40-49 and 50-59.

This week, Rheumatology Network sat down with Daniel J. Lovell, MD, MPH, to discuss his study, “Prevalence of autoimmune diseases and other associated conditions in children and young adults with juvenile idiopathic arthritis.”

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Rheumatology Network's highlights from the week ending April 2, 2021.

COVID-19 has created new challenges and opportunities in the way that rheumatologists care for chronically ill patients, including the introduction and prevalence of telemedicine and digital health applications (DHAs).

While some patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) find it beneficial to receive anti-inflammatory therapy to treat their fatigue, there is increasingly more evidence that chronic diseases increase risk of psychiatric disorders, such as anxiety and depression, which need to be treated differently.

Recently, a link between venous thromboembolism (VTE) and Janus Kinase (JAK) inhibitors has emerged, causing the FDA to recommend a black box label for tofacitinib in 2019. New research, however, suggests that tofacitinib had similarly infrequent cases of VTE (<1 per 100) when compared with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFIs).

Investigators identified both facilitators and barriers for trial participation in patients at risk for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in order to enhance inclusion in trials designed to prevent RA.

This week, Rheumatology Network interviewed Michael C. Schweitz, MD, to discuss the recent press release published by CreakyJoints that announced their partnership with the John Whelton Arthur Virshup CreakyJoints South Florida Arthritis Clinic.

Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) may be more likely to acquire severe pneumonia due to COVID-19, especially in patients with autoimmune disease who are being treated with rituximab.

Currently, diagnosing a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a complex process that compares potential lupus with other conditions. It can be challenging and delayed by a period of time, which increases patient uncertainty, referrals, healthcare utilization, increased flares, and organ dysfunction. In this study, machine learning (ML) via artificial intelligence tools based on patient data was used to develop an algorithm to help with SLE diagnosis.

During the study, which ran from December 2016 through May 2018, 301 flares were treated: 214 with anakinra and 87 with triamcinolone. Both treatment options reduced pain intensity for both first and subsequent flares.

Take 5 minutes to catch up on Rheumatology Network's highlights from the week ending March 19, 2021.