At the 19th Annual Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of the Rheumatic Diseases course, Dr. Michelle Petri gave a presentation concerning the overall state of lupus treatment outcomes in the U.S.
FDA Approves Sarilumab for the Treatment of Adults with Glucocorticoid-Resistant PMR
Sarilumab is now FDA approved to treat adults with polymyalgia rheumatica who have had an inadequate response to glucocorticoids or who cannot tolerate a glucocorticoid taper. This new indication is based on results from the multicenter, phase 3 SAPHYR trial.
Almost Half of Patients with RA Experience Flare after Glucocorticoid Discontinuation
In a post hoc analysis of two clinical trials, Maassen et al. demonstrated that 40% of patients with early RA or undifferentiated arthritis experienced disease flare after primary glucocorticoid discontinuation despite background treatment with conventional synthetic DMARDs.
Tocilizumab Is Effective to Treat GCA
In a recent clinical trial, tocilizumab helped sustain glucocorticoid-free remission in patients with giant cell arteritis. Patients also received a prednisone taper, and 50% of tocilizumab-treated patients achieved prednisone-free remission and were less likely to experience disease flare compared with placebo…
Studies Highlight Risk of Damage from Lupus Treatments
WASHINGTON, D.C.—Conference goers who braved the final day of the 2016 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting were awarded for their stamina by learning about issues relating to the damage caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) during the session Systemic Lupus Erythematosus—Clinical Aspects and Treatment V: Damage and Morbidity. Minimizing Damage: Early Use of GC-Sparing Strategies Jayne Little,…
Methotrexate with Step-Down Glucocorticoid Remission Induction Works in Early RA
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Methotrexate with step-down glucocorticoid remission induction (COBRA Slim) is an effective, safe and feasible initial treatment strategy for patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), researchers from Belgium report. Patients with early RA should be treated rapidly, intensively and to target, according to current guidelines, they note in a paper online July 18…
Glucocorticoid Use for Rheumatoid Arthritis Still Sparks Debate
Glucocorticoids: The Debate Continues Déjà vu … In past decades, rheumatologists have seen, heard, practiced and taught much of what has been argued in the “ongoing debate” on the use of glucocorticoids (GCs) in the management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).1 It is heartening to note that eminent professors have stuck to their premise all these…
2014 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting: Bone Fracture Concerns in Children
Recognizing, reducing risk of bone fractures in pediatric patients with rheumatic disease, taking glucocorticoid therapy
Glucocorticoid Use in Rheumatoid Arthritis Management Focus of Ongoing Debate
Questions around prescribing steroids as bridge therapy, in long-term low dosages, or low-dose timed-release formulas, or not at all evoke controversy among rheumatologists
The ACR President Joseph Flood, MD, Reviews 2014 in Rheumatology
Information technology an overarching theme of this year’s work