Exclusive: ACR Convergence 2024| Focus Rheums

An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

Arthritis Patients Lack Knowledge about Safe Use of Biologics

Will Boggs, MD  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Many patients with arthritis lack the knowledge to use their biologic treatments safely, researchers from France report. “Some patients are at risk of poorly managing their biologic therapy, especially patients living alone, in a large city, patients with low education level, or (patients who are) unemployed,” Dr. Anne-Christine Rat from CHU de…

Certolizumab Combo Helps Curb RA Damage

David Douglas  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia, UCB Pharma) in combination with methotrexate does better than methotrexate alone in certain patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to one-year results from a new trial. As Dr. Paul Emery of the University of Leeds, UK, explains in an email to Reuters Health, “This study used a unique…

Researchers Hone in on Defect in Autophagy that May Underlie Lupus

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New research investigates the role of autophagy, specifically the cell digestion process called LC3-associated phagocytosis (LAP), in inflammation and the pathology of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Researchers found that defects in this process result in failure to digest dying cells, which increases inflammatory cytokine production and results in SLE-like disease in mice. Further exposure to dying cells accelerated disease development…

Remission of Rheumatoid Arthritis Tied to Lower Risk of Metabolic Syndrome

Reuters Staff  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Disease remission in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is associated with a lower risk of developing metabolic syndrome, according to a new study from Thailand. Researchers also found that a lower educational level was linked to a higher risk of metabolic syndrome, they report in Joint Bone Spine, online May 26. Dr….

Monitoring Doctors Cuts Opioid Prescriptions

Ronnie Cohen  |  

(Reuters Health)—Doctors in states that track painkiller prescriptions were nearly one-third less likely to offer patients dangerously addicting opioids, a new study found. The launch of drug-monitoring programs in 24 states led to an immediate 30 percent drop in prescriptions for Schedule II opioids, the most addictive, in patients with pain complaints, the study showed….

FDA Seeks Suspension of 4,402 Illegal Prescription Drug Websites

Reuters Staff  |  

(Reuters)—The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said on Thursday it, along with international authorities, has formally sought to suspend 4,402 websites that illegally sell potentially dangerous, counterfeit or unapproved prescription drugs to U.S. consumers. The move is part of a global effort being led by the INTERPOL, the world’s largest police organization, to identify the…

NSAIDs Effective for Early Axial Spondyloarthritis

Reuters Staff  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are effective, but underused, in patients with early axial spondyloarthritis, researchers from France report. NSAIDs are the cornerstone of treatment of axial spondyloarthritis, but there is often a trade-off between prescribing doses high enough to decrease pain and other symptoms vs. keeping the doses low enough to decrease…

Adalimumab Drives Regulatory T Cell Expansion by Binding to Membrane TNF

Will Boggs, MD  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) antibody adalimumab drives regulatory T cell (Treg) expansion in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by binding to membrane TNF, researchers from the UK report. “These results show that adalimumab enhances the anti-inflammatory actions of TNF to increase regulatory T cell activity,” Dr. Michael R. Ehrenstein from University College London,…