John Cush’s Post

ICYMI: 2022 EULAR Recommendations on Screening & Prophylaxis for Opportunistic Infections

PMR - a Risk Factor for Recalcitrant Giant Cell Arteritis? Despite the clinical similarities and treatment differences between giant cell arteritis (GCA polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), confusion exists regarding the impact of overlapping disorders.

Cost-Effectiveness of Biosimilars vs Leflunomide An economic evaluation of 25 099 rheumatoid arthritis patients found that treatment with biosimilar DMARDs were cost-effective compared with the conventional DMARD, leflunomide.

ICYMI: Can Mycophenolate be Stopped in Stable SLE?

ICYMI: Dead Words Eulogy

In the US CorEvitas registry of 1823 PsA pts; 11.1% fulfilled fibromyalgia definition & 20.6% had widespread pain. FM was assoc w/ female, depression/anxiety, impaired function, increased BMI, comorbidities. cDAPSA, patient pain& TJC https://buff.ly/3RXcUiY

Paradoxical psoriasis w/ IL-17 inhibitors? Lit review of 35 (SpA) pts, mostly presenting as palmoplantar pustular and plaque PsO; median 11 weeks after IL-17i. one-third continued IL-17i w/ mostly topical Rx; 2/3 D/C IL-17i, switching to other biologic w/ good outcomes https://buff.ly/4eOdXfb

5 yr outcomes of 150 difficult-to-treat RA (D2T RA) pts - D2T RA resolved in 45%, persisted in 50%, & 5% died. Resolved D2T RA was signif younger, had more Rx changes, & more IL-6i use. Mortality predicted by comorbidity index, steroid escalation (OR 3.50; & 32) https://buff.ly/4bG7aRQ

In early arthritis (RA) pts there is no value in measuring for IgA-ACPA or IgA-RF, as there presence doesnt provide more than IgG-ACPA. In tREACH trial IgA-ACPA present in 23% & overlaped w/ IgG-ACPA in 94% (w/ IgM-RF in 90%). https://buff.ly/3RYpAX2

CT angio in 75 pts w/ Takayasu arteritis (40 w/ cDMARDs, 35 biologics) showed reduced arterial thickness in 73% (31% w/ >25% decr in wall thickness). 1st immunosuppressives (p= 0.012) & bDMARDs(p= 0.026) reduced art. wall thickness (relative to cDMARDs) https://buff.ly/4bxvLrX