Adding abatacept to methotrexate improves disease activity and reduces structural progression among ACPA-positive rheumatoid arthritis patients with early erosion, Japanese researchers report.
Patients with large vessel involvement when diagnosed with biopsy-confirmed giant cell arteritis have a substantially increased risk of death relative to patients with no large vessel involvement, Italian researchers report.
Results of an observational study provide preliminary evidence suggesting that patients with gout and fatty liver disease who are treated with febuxostat do not have an elevated risk for hepatotoxicity.
The American College of Rheumatology and the National Psoriasis Foundation have issued evidence-based guidelines for the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic treatment of active psoriatic arthritis.
Source:
Arthritis Rheumatol 2018; doi:10.1002/art.40726 Arthritis Care Res 2018; doi:10.1002/acr.23789 J Psoriasis Psoriatic Arthritis 2018; doi:10.1177/2475530318812244
Findings from the PRAIRI trial suggest that a single infusion of the B-cell directed agent rituximab could delay the development of rheumatoid arthritis among individuals positive for anti-citrullinated peptide antibodies and rheumatoid factor.
Source:
Ann Rheum Dis 2018; doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2017-212763
Ankylosing spondylitis patients with elevated C-reactive protein levels may experience greater benefits from treatment with the interleukin-17A inhibitor secukinumab than those with lower levels of the inflammatory marker, researchers report.
Changes in the multi-biomarker disease activity score could be used to track response to rituximab treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, researchers report.
The annual prevalence of chronic opioid use among people with rheumatoid arthritis more than doubled between 2002 and 2015, with severe pain and antidepressant use the strongest predictors for initiating opioids, US researchers report.
Follow-up results from the SIRROUND-D trial indicate that patients with rheumatoid arthritis refractory to DMARDs who are treated with sirukumab experience sustained improvements in clinical outcomes for up to 2 years.
Among biologic-treated patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, infection risk may differ according to disease subtype and the biologic agent used, researchers report.
A single-session nonpharmacologic intervention delivered by rheumatology-trained healthcare professionals from different disciplines improves grip strength among patients with hand osteoarthritis, randomized trial findings suggest.
Absolute lymphocyte counts can provide guidance on serious infection risk among patients with rheumatoid arthritis who are undergoing tofacitinib treatment, say researchers.
Findings from the Osteoarthritis Initiative suggest that knee pain is associated with accelerated cartilage volume loss and progression of osteoarthritis.
Among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, a combination of anticitrullinated protein antibody and rheumatoid factor positivity is associated with faster treatment response and a greater likelihood of achieving remission, researchers report.
Real-world study results suggest that the subcutaneous and intravenous forms of tocilizumab are associated with similar effectiveness among patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
Disease activity does not change following the switch from etanercept to the biosimilar formulation SB4, and treatment retention rates may be determined by patient-specific factors, suggests an analysis of the DANBIO registry.
Source:
Ann Rheum Dis 2018; doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2018-213474
Findings from the real-world GO-EASY study suggest that treatment with the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor golimumab is associated with a significant reduction in the risk for acute anterior uveitis among patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
Findings from a pilot study indicate that activity tracking using a wrist-worn device is a feasible approach for promoting physical activity in adolescent patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis