Early recognition of Sjögren syndrome is essential because timely diagnosis and coordinated follow-up reduce systemic complications, including the risk for lymphoma. Medscape News UK
Tag: Rheumatology
Systemic Therapy for Sjögren Closer With Phase 3 Success
Current treatment options have been limited to symptom control. Telitacicept, a novel fusion protein, and ianalumab, a monoclonal antibody, demonstrate improvement in disease activity. Medscape Medical News
Tocilizumab May Be Better Than MTX for GCA at 1 Year
At week 52 in a randomized, controlled trial, results suggest that tocilizumab is more effective than methotrexate in maintaining remission and preventing relapse. Medscape Medical News
NIH Launches Agency-Wide Plan for Autoimmune Research
The 5-year strategy aims to accelerate diagnosis, prevention, and treatment for the millions living with autoimmune diseases in the US. Medscape Medical News
Novartis Drug Cosentyx Fails Late-stage Trial for Artery Disease
Novartis said on Thursday that its Cosentyx drug had failed in a late-stage trial on adults with giant cell arteritis (GCA), a condition characterised by inflammation of the… Reuters Health Information
Leflunomide, HCQ Combo Effects Validated in Sjögren Disease
The combination of leflunomide and hydroxychloroquine outperformed placebo in reducing disease activity in primary Sjögren syndrome in a second phase II study. Medscape Medical News
European Behçet’s Recommendations Forthcoming
When to use apremilast and biologics and how to deal with vascular involvement were some of the main areas to be updated in forthcoming EULAR recommendations for Behçet’s disease. Medscape Medical News
Time to Monitor Serum Hydroxychloroquine Levels in Lupus?
Monitoring serum hydroxychloroquine levels could help to ensure that patients with SLE are being treated with the drug optimally, study findings suggest. Medscape Medical News
Time to Monitor Blood Hydroxychloroquine Levels in Lupus?
Monitoring blood hydroxychloroquine levels could help to ensure that patients with SLE are being treated with the drug optimally, study findings suggest. Medscape Medical News
FDA Okays Upadacitinib for Giant Cell Arteritis
This is the first and only oral JAK inhibitor indicated for giant cell arteritis, according to the manufacturer AbbVie. Medscape Medical News
Slow Adalimumab Tapering May Cut Risk for Uveitis Relapse
A retrospective cohort analysis shows that pediatric patients with noninfectious uveitis face lower recurrence rates when adalimumab is tapered slowly after remission. Medscape Medical News
JAK Inhibitors Offer Some Improvement for Pediatric Uveitis
Only half of patients showed clinical improvement attributed to the medication, but only one new complication occurred. Medscape Medical News
FDA Approves First and Only Therapy for IgG4-RD
The CD19+ B-Cell targeted therapy reduced flare risk by 87% in a phase 3 clinical trial. Medscape Medical News
HLA-B27 Status Linked to Poor Outcomes in JIA After 18 Years
HLA-B27 positivity is linked to higher odds of non-remission in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at 18 years after disease onset, with the odds being higher in men than in women. Medscape News UK
Inflammation Often Remains Following Tocilizumab Use for GCA
A recent study found that combined tocilizumab and glucocorticoid therapy for at least 6 months did not fully eliminate vascular inflammation in patients with giant cell arteritis. Medscape Medical News
Adalimumab: To Stop or Not to Stop for JIA-Linked Uveitis?
Patients with JIA-associated uveitis who discontinued adalimumab had higher recurrence rates than those who continued the treatment, but they regained control upon restarting it. Medscape Medical News
B-Cell Depleting Drug Shines in IgG4-Related Disease
Dramatic study results point to the potential for a steroid-sparing option for patients with the underrecognized multiorgan condition. Medscape Medical News
Infliximab vs Adalimumab: Which Is Best for Behçet Syndrome?
Both infliximab and adalimumab were found to be effective in achieving remission and enhancing quality of life while having a high level of tolerability in patients with mucocutaneous Behçet syndrome. Medscape Medical News
IV Steroids in GCA: No Visual Benefit, Higher Diabetes Risk
Intravenous methylprednisolone is not significantly beneficial vs oral glucocorticoids in improving visual acuity or survival in patients with giant cell arteritis, and it increases diabetes risk. Medscape Medical News
How Pending Federal Bills Targeting PBMs Might Help Patients
Dr Madelaine A. Feldman discusses how bills might affect access to medications, delink drug list prices from PBMs’ income, and redirect drug manufacturers’ price concessions from payers to patients. MDedge