An overview of highlights from the 2025 ECIM meeting, including research on treatment options for systemic sclerosis, the management of PMR & autoimmune testing.
Abatacept Shows Promise for Some Myositis Patients
Injected abatacept may be a worthwhile treatment for certain patients with idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM), according to recent research.1 Patients with the rare autoimmune conditions involving inflammation of muscle (myositis) and other organ systems suffer widespread organ dysfunction, increased morbidity, physical disabilities and early death. Symptoms vary by subtype. For example, dermatomyositis (DM) involves muscle…
2024 Research Updates in ANCA-Associated & IgA Vasculitis
Summaries of selected research abstracts on ANCA-associated vasculitis & IgA vasculitis from the International Vasculitis Workshop.
Studies Suggest Similar Risks for Biologics vs. Conventional Therapies for Rheumatoid Arthritis
Two new studies delving into the relative safety of biologic drugs prescribed for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have concluded that real-world applications of abatacept and tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi’s) are comparable to more conventional therapies in their associated risk of serious infections. Triple Therapy One study, in Arthritis Care & Research, found the risk of…
Rheumatology Drugs at a Glance, Part 3: Rheumatoid Arthritis
Over the past few years, biosimilars and other new drugs have been introduced to treat rheumatic illnesses. Some of the conditions we treat have numerous drug options, others have few or only off-label options. This series, “Rheumatology Drugs at a Glance,” provides streamlined information on the administration of biologic, biosimilar and small molecule inhibitor drugs…
Biological DMARDs in Elderly RA Patients: Use, Maintenance & Discontinuation
A study comparing seven biologic DMARDs in RA patients aged 65 years and older found abatacept had the highest retention rate and the lowest discontinuation rate…
Recent Trials Investigated Targeted Therapies for Systemic Sclerosis
SNOWMASS VILLAGE, COLO.—Data from three recent trials in systemic sclerosis (scleroderma) provide information on a number of important issues related to screening and treatment. First presented at the 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting, the phase 2/3 trials assessed the safety and efficacy of targeted agents to treat patients with systemic sclerosis.1-3 In a follow-up presentation at…
Rheumatology Drugs at a Glance, Part 1: Psoriatic Arthritis
Over the past few years, biosimilars and other new drugs have been introduced to treat rheumatic illnesses. Some of the conditions we treat have numerous drug options, others have few or only off-label options. This series, Rheumatology Drugs at a Glance, provides streamlined information on the administration of biologic, biosimilar and other medications used to…
Treating Lupus: Strategies, Treat to Target & Biologics
CHICAGO—David A. Isenberg, MD, academic director of rheumatology, University College London, presented the ACR Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) State-of-the-Art Symposium at the 2018 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting. Dr. Isenberg began by noting lupus is now widely covered in the news, but singer Selena Gomez has probably done the most to increase awareness of the disease; her…
RA Effectiveness Differs Among Non-TNF Inhibitors
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) outcomes are better with some non-TNF inhibitors than with others, according to French registry data. “Previously, indirect comparisons (meta-analyses) did not show any difference between biologics in terms of effectiveness,” Dr. Jacques-Eric Gottenberg from Strasbourg University Hospital, France, tells Reuters Health by email. “Our direct comparison using observational data…