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Rheumatology
Top Medical News
In the treatment of select patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), otilimab is neither better than placebo nor noninferior to sarilumab in terms of the proportion of patients achieving an American College of Rheumatology ≥20 percent response (ACR20), according to the results of the phase III ContRAst 3 study.
Combination treatment with glucocorticoid (GC) plus hydroxychloroquine appears to yield more favourable outcomes than GC alone in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) rash, while having a good safety profile, according to a study.
Following the switch from combination therapy to monotherapy, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with overall lower disease activity (LDA) have higher odds of achieving and remaining in Simplified Disease Activity Index (SDAI) remission/LDA, suggests a study.
Histologic variables of renal biopsy in lupus nephritis (LN) are significantly associated with kidney failure and mortality, suggests a recent study.
Long-term treatment with golimumab results in relatively low infection rates among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a study has shown.
New drug applications approved by US FDA as of 16-31 August 2023 which includes New Molecular Entities (NMEs) and new biologics. It does not include Tentative Approvals. Supplemental approvals may have occurred since the original approval date.
Use of selexipag shows promise in the treatment of systemic sclerosis (SSc) digital vasculopathy, according to a study.
Special Reports
Though most COVID-19 safe management measures have been lifted in Singapore, the pandemic continues to adversely impact the lives of immunocompromised patients at high risk of severe infection.
“It has been an absolute misery for these patients and their families,” said Dr Leong Hoe Nam, Infectious Disease Specialist at Mount Elizabeth Novena Hospital, Singapore. “The virus is an unseen enemy that may strike unexpectedly. The strike may kill, or if not, maim the individual. Patients isolate themselves for fear of getting infected while their family members fear bringing the illness back home.”
Immunocompromised patients are those with suppressed immunity resulting from health conditions, including solid organ and haematological cancers, end-stage kidney and liver disease, organ or bone marrow transplants, and immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, or those on active treatment with immunosuppressive medications. [Expert Rev Vaccines 2022;1-17; BMJ 2021;374:n2098]
Nearly half of all rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients suffer comorbidity, which has a negative impact on quality of life and mortality. At a recent scientific symposium, Professor Peter Taylor from the University of Oxford in Oxford, UK emphasized the importance of monitoring, preventing, and treating comorbidities in RA while Professor Christopher Edwards from the University Hospital Southampton in Southampton, UK focused on the impact of mental health in RA. The symposium was organized by Fresenius Kabi and held under the auspices of the Singapore Society of Rheumatology. Dr Lian Tsui Yee from Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore chaired the event.
Osteoporosis is a bone condition characterized by reduced bone mass and microarchitectural deterioration of bone tissue, consequently increasing bone fragility and fracture susceptibility.1 Despite being a major cause of death and disability, osteoporosis is significantly underdiagnosed and undertreated in Asia.2 At a recent symposium supported by the Osteoporosis Society (Singapore) and organized by Amgen, local expert Dr Chionh Siok Bee presented an overview of the fracture landscape in Singapore, while internationally renowned guest speaker Dr Charles A Inderjeeth discussed the importance of identifying and managing osteoporosis fracture risk, with a focus on the role of antiresorptive agent denosumab.
Conference Reports
Two real-world studies presented at EULAR 2023 reflected the cardiovascular (CV) safety of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi*) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Half of gout patients receiving novel uricase analogue infusions, along with a proprietary rapamycin formulation, got their serum urate controlled in two phase III studies presented at EULAR 2023.
Patients initiated on gliflozins or flozins – also called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors – for type 2 diabetes (T2D) who were previously on metformin had reductions in the incidents of gout of up to 60 percent compared with other second-line agents in a recent study.
In the phase III STRIDES X-Ray Extension study, additional doses of the investigational CLK/DYRK inhibitor lorecivivint delivered favourable outcomes for individuals with advanced knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Treatment with dazodalibep, a novel nonantibody fusion protein that acts as an antagonist of CD40 ligand, significantly reduced symptom burden in adults with Sjögren’s syndrome, according to the ALISS trial presented at EULAR 2023.
In the treatment of chronic glucocorticoid users with high fracture risk, romosozumab yields higher gains in spine bone mineral density (BMD) compared with denosumab, as shown in a pilot trial presented at EULAR 2023.
It is now possible to predict rheumatoid arthritis (RA), thanks to interpretations of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans made by an artificial intelligence (AI) model.