In evaluating more than 90 patients, Dr. Winthrop and colleagues found that 88% of patients achieved a satisfactory humoral response to RZV at week 16, and age and use of glucocorticoids did not result in negative effects on the response. These study results are particularly important because the risk of shingles infection has been shown to be increased in patients treated with JAK inhibitor therapy. Thus, proper use of RZV in these patients is essential.
In Sum
The session highlighted many of the hot topics related to RA medications, both old and new. There continues to be great advancement in our understanding of these treatment modalities and how best to balance benefits and risks of therapy. With ongoing research, continued progress will be made toward ensuring the ideal outcomes for every patient with RA.
Jason Liebowitz, MD, is an assistant professor of medicine in the Division of Rheumatology at Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York.
References
- Ytterberg SR, Bhatt DL, Mikuls TR, et al. Cardiovascular and cancer risk with tofacitinib in rheumatoid arthritis. N Engl J Med. 2022 Jan;386(4):316–326.
- Aymon R, Mongin D, Bergstra SA, et al. Incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with JAK- inhibitors compared to bDMARDS: Data from an international collaboration of registries (the ‘JAK-POT’ study). [abstract OP0219] Ann Rheum Dis. 2023;82:143–145.
- Van Ouwerkerk L, Verschueren P, Boers M, et al. Initial glucocorticoid bridging in rheumatoid arthritis: Does it affect glucocorticoid use over time? [abstract OP0220] Ann Rheum Dis. 2023;82:145.
- Winthrop KL, Curtis JR, Lindsey S, et al. Herpes zoster and tofacitinib: Clinical outcomes and the risk of concomitant therapy. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2017 Oct;69(10):1960–1968.
- Winthrop KL. The emerging safety profile of JAK inhibitors in rheumatic disease. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2017 Apr;13(5):320.
