Exclusive: ACR Convergence 2024| Focus Rheums

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

Large Vessel Vasculitis

Philip Seo, MD, MHS  |  

SAN DIEGO—The large vessel vasculitides, including Takayasu’s arteritis and giant cell arteritis, experienced a surge of interest at ACR Convergence 2023. Here, we highlight important points from 10 of the studies presented at this conference.

Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole Prophylaxis & Infections in Patients with GPA

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SAN DIEGO—In their study, Effect of Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole Prophylaxis on Infections During Treatment of Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis with Rituximab: A Population-Based Study, Mendel et al. assessed the relationship between trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) and infection in patients undergoing treatment for granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Background/Purpose Infections during treatment of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis (AAV)…

Reduced-Dose Glucocorticoids for GPA & Microscopic Polyangiitis

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SAN DIEGO—In a study titled Real-Life Use of the PEXIVAS Reduced-dose Glucocorticoid Regimen in Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis and Microscopic Polyangiitis, Nagle et al. evaluated the efficacy and safety of the reduced-dose glucocorticoid regimen in a real-world setting. Background/Purpose Glucocorticoids (GCs) in combination with rituximab (RTX) or cyclophosphamide are the cornerstone of treatment for patients with…

Risks of Severe HCQ Non-Adherence

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Lower HCQ Serum Levels Associated with SLE Flare, Damage & Mortality Background & Objectives: Nguyen et al. set out to assess the consequences of severe non-adherence to hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) by measuring hydroxychloroquine serum levels, risks of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) flares, damage and mortality over five years of follow-up. Methods: The Systemic Lupus Erythematosus International…

Skin & Joints: Experts Discuss Advances in PsA

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SAN DIEGO—The understanding of the microenvironment in which immune cells interact with stromal cells in the synovium of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is deepening, potentially giving clues for treatments. As this understanding improves, so does the appreciation for its astounding complexity, an expert said here in a session at ACR Convergence, which…

Where Viral Infections Meet Rheumatic Disease

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SAN DIEGO—Viral infections are a common cause of acute arthritis and, in general, tend to be short lived and are not usually associated with significant articular inflammation. Due to the prevalence of various viral infections across the globe, any patient with signs of early inflammatory arthritis (i.e., symptoms that have not yet lasted six weeks) should be evaluated for a possible infectious etiology, said Dr. Leonard Calabrese in the Review Course at ACR Convergence 2023.

Rheumatic Disease & Reproductive Health

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SAN DIEGO—In the Review Course at ACR Convergence 2023, Dr. Megan Clowse spoke on the subject of reproductive counseling for patients with rheumatic conditions, a topic that has been the focus of much of her research and scholarship.