European Congress of Rheumatology 2022 (EULAR 2022)

Baricitinib delays, lowers frequency of flares in JIA

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20220623180001

In patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) with insufficient response to conventional synthetic (cs) or biologic (b) disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), the JAK*1/2 selective inhibitor baricitinib reduced the frequency and delayed time to disease flares, according to a phase III trial presented at EULAR 2022.

Bimekizumab triumphs in bDMARD-naïve psoriatic arthritis patients

Roshini Claire Anthony, 20220620150001

Patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) with no prior exposure to biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) experience improvements in their condition when treated with bimekizumab, according to results of the phase III BE OPTIMAL trial.

Bimekizumab shows promise across the spectrum of axial spondyloarthritis

Elaine Soliven, 20220618000000

Treatment with bimekizumab, a monoclonal IgG1 antibody that selectively inhibits interleukin (IL)-17F and IL-17A, significantly improved ASAS40* response rate in patients with either nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) or ankylosing spondylitis (AS**), according to two phase III studies presented at EULAR 2022.

Antihistamines potentially beneficial for knee OA

Audrey Abella, 20220617100000

The use of antihistamines was associated with reduced structural progression in knee osteoarthritis (OA), according to a post hoc analysis of two large phase III trials.

JAK inhibition with upadacitinib works well in nr-axSpA

Elvira Manzano, 20220616000000

Treatment with upadacitinib improves disease activity, pain, function, and quality of life (QoL) in patients with non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) in a study touted as the first to evaluate a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor for this condition.

Sarilumab shows potential for relapsing polymyalgia rheumatica

Audrey Abella, 20220615100000

The monoclonal antibody sarilumab demonstrated significant efficacy in individuals with relapsing polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), findings from the phase III SAPHYR trial have shown.

Vitamin D, fish oil: protective against autoimmune diseases?

Audrey Abella, 20220613100000

In the postintervention results of the VITAL* trial, vitamin D and marine omega-3 fatty acids (n-3 FAs) continued to demonstrate a protective effect against autoimmune diseases in older adults.

OKINADA: TNF inhibition disappoints in knee osteoarthritis

Jairia Dela Cruz, 20220610140000

Short-term tumour necrosis factor (TNF) inhibition with adalimumab falls short of producing improvements in patients with radiographic knee osteoarthritis, according to the proof-of-concept OKINADA trial presented at this year’s European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) Congress.

Women with rheumatic diseases face adverse pregnancy outcomes

Jairia Dela Cruz, 20220609140000

Pregnancies in women with rheumatic and systemic autoimmune diseases—including systemic lupus erythematosus, spondyloarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis—pose significant health risks and are likely to lead to unfavourable outcomes, according to several studies presented at this year’s European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) Congress.

Long-term steroid OK for RA but challenges guidelines

Elvira Manzano, 20220608000000

Contrary to what current guidelines advocate, long-term use of corticosteroid works fine in older patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), suggests the much-anticipated GLORIA* trial presented at EULAR 2022.