Research has found blood tests detect elevations of autoantibody isotypes in patients years before they are diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). According to Kevin Deane, MD, PhD, identifying patients during this pre-RA period may be key to preventing or delaying the onset of RA.
An observational study found treatment with tofacitinib resulted in only a slightly higher rate of venous thromboembolism than tumor necrosis factor inhibitors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
The SELECT-EARLY MTX-controlled trial examined the safety and efficacy of upadacitinib, a potent, reversible jakinib, as monotherapy in patients with moderately to highly active RA and poor prognostic features who are either naive for or have limited exposure to methotrexate.
In a study, researchers found rheumatoid arthritis patients experience a persistent burden of functional disability regardless of disease duration, age or gender.
RA patients experience a higher rate of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events than controls. In a new study, Karpouzas et al. determined that current biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug use is associated with reduced long-term CVD risk, protective calcification of noncalcified lesions and a lower likelihood of new plaque formation in patients with early atherosclerosis.
Research is examining the safety and tolerability of two different doses of ABX464 in patients with moderate to severe active RA…
A study comparing trends in the incidence of RA from 2005 to 2014 with previous decades showed a shift in RA subset, suggesting the need for timely recognition of rheumatoid factor-negative RA…
A recent study compared three clinical criteria for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in patients using certolizumab, assessing the predictability of treatment non-response. Researchers found Clinical Disease Activity Index measurement at three months may predict patient outcomes at 12 months…
A study found resident memory T cells may mediate inflammatory arthritis and trigger flares in specific joints, suggesting local depletion of these cells could be a therapeutic strategy…
(Reuters Health)—The live herpes zoster vaccine does not provide reliable long-term protection in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients taking tofacitinib, a recent study suggests. Current ACR guidelines conditionally recommend that patients with RA who are 50 years and older be vaccinated against herpes zoster prior to starting therapy with the Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor tofacitinib or…