Article
Rheumatology
Viking Huss, Hannah Bower, Karin Hellgren, Thomas Frisell, Johan Askling, ARTIS grp
Summary: This study assessed the cancer risks associated with Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) compared to biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in clinical practice. The results showed that, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA), the short-term risk of cancers other than non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) was not higher with JAKi compared to tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi), but there was evidence of an increased risk for NMSC.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Angel Y. S. Wong, Brian MacKenna, Caroline E. Morton, Anna Schultze, Alex J. Walker, Krishnan Bhaskaran, Jeremy P. Brown, Christopher T. Rentsch, Elizabeth Williamson, Henry Drysdale, Richard Croker, Seb Bacon, William Hulme, Chris Bates, Helen J. Curtis, Amir Mehrkar, David Evans, Peter Inglesby, Jonathan Cockburn, Helen McDonald, Laurie Tomlinson, Rohini Mathur, Kevin Wing, Harriet Forbes, Rosalind M. Eggo, John Parry, Frank Hester, Sam Harper, Stephen J. W. Evans, Liam Smeeth, Ian J. Douglas, Ben Goldacre
Summary: Two cohort studies were conducted to assess the association between routinely prescribed NSAIDs and COVID-19 related deaths, finding no evidence of a harmful effect. Therefore, the risks of COVID-19 do not need to influence decisions about the routine therapeutic use of NSAIDs.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Lihi Eder, Ruth Croxford, Aaron M. Drucker, Arielle Mendel, Bindee Kuriya, Zahi Touma, Sindhu R. Johnson, Richard Cook, Sasha Bernatsky, Nigil Haroon, Jessica Widdifield
Summary: The study found that patients with immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) have a higher risk of hospitalization with COVID-19, partly due to their comorbidities.
JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Farzin Khosrow-Khavar, Seoyoung C. Kim, Hemin Lee, Su Been Lee, Rishi J. Desai
Summary: The study did not find evidence of increased cardiovascular risk with tofacitinib in patients with RA in a real-world setting. However, tofacitinib was associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular outcomes, although statistically non-significant, in patients with RA with cardiovascular risk factors.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Thomas Frisell, Hannah Bower, Matilda Morin, Eva Baecklund, Daniela Di Giuseppe, Benedicte Delcoigne, Nils Feltelius, Helena Forsblad-d'Elia, Elisabet Lindqvist, Ulf Lindstroem, Johan Askling
Summary: The objective of this study was to assess and compare the incidence rates of key safety outcomes for individual targeted synthetic or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/ts DMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study found that the b/tsDMARDs currently used to treat RA have acceptable and largely similar safety profiles, but differences exist in particular concerning tolerability and specific infection risks.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Xue Li, Xinning Tong, Winnie Wan Yin Yeung, Peng Kuan, Samson Hin Hei Yum, Celine Sze Ling Chui, Francisco Tsz Tsun Lai, Eric Yuk Fai Wan, Carlos King Ho Wong, Esther Wai Yin Chan, Chak Sing Lau, Ian Chi Kei Wong
Summary: This study found no significant association between COVID-19 full vaccination (including mRNA and inactivated virus vaccines) and possible arthritis flare among patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Additionally, there were no significant differences in the distribution of weekly rheumatic drug prescriptions among the three groups of patients since the launch of the vaccination program.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Cristiana Sieiro Santos, Xenia Casas Fernandez, Clara Moriano Morales, Elvira Diez Alvarez, Carolina Alvarez Castro, Alejandra Lopez Robles, Trinidad Perez Sandoval
Summary: The study found that patients treated with biological agents have a lower risk of contracting COVID-19 and can still be managed at home during the outbreak, while IL-6 inhibitors may have a protective effect.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Merel A. A. Opdam, Sophie Benoy, Lise M. Verhoef, Sandra Van Bijnen, Femke Lamers-Karnebeek, Rene A. M. Traksel, Petra Vos, Alfons A. den Broeder, Jasper Broen
Summary: Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases do not have an increased risk for COVID-19 compared to the general population. Older age and obesity are major risk factors for hospitalization for COVID-19 in patients with IRD, while the use of methotrexate may have a protective effect in reducing the risk of hospitalization.
CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Teresa A. Simon, Lixian Dong, Samy Suissa, Kaleb Michaud, Sofia Pedro, Marc Hochberg, Maarten Boers, Johan Askling, Thomas Frisell, Anja Strangfeld, Yvette Meissner, Vadim Khaychuk, Alyssa Dominique, Michael A. Maldonado
Summary: This study evaluated the risk of non-melanoma skin cancer associated with abatacept treatment for rheumatoid arthritis. The results suggest a potential increase in NMSC risk with abatacept use compared to conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
H. -Q. Zeng, H. -J. Liu, S. -B. Wang, Z. -H. Yin
Summary: This study investigated the attitudes and vaccine hesitancy among Chinese rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients towards COVID-19 vaccination. The findings revealed a low vaccination rate among RA patients. Factors influencing vaccine willingness included employment status, related systemic damage, the acute stage of RA, and fear of disease development caused by drug discontinuation.
EUROPEAN REVIEW FOR MEDICAL AND PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Kim Lauper, Michele Ludici, Denis Mongin, Sytske Anne Bergstra, Denis Choquette, Catalin Codreanu, Rene Cordtz, Diederik De Cock, Lene Dreyer, Ori Elkayam, Ellen-Margrethe Hauge, Doreen Huschek, Kimme L. Hyrich, Florenzo Iannone, Nevsun Inanc, Lianne Kearsley-Fleet, Eirik Klami Kristianslund, Tore K. Kvien, Burkhard F. Leeb, Galina Lukina, Dan C. Nordstrom, Karel Pavelka, Manuel Pombo-Suarez, Ziga Rotar, Maria Jose Santos, Anja Strangfeld, Patrick Verschueren, Delphine Sophie Courvoisier, Axel Finckh
Summary: This study compared the effectiveness of four different second-line therapies of rheumatoid arthritis and found that the overall drug discontinuation and 1-year response rates of JAKi and IL-6i were similar to TNFi. JAKi were more often discontinued for adverse events and less for ineffectiveness compared to TNFi.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2022)
Review
Rheumatology
Kristin M. D'Silva, Zachary S. Wallace
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unique challenges for patients with rheumatoid arthritis, including infection risk, drug shortages, limited access to care, social isolation, and mental health concerns. Older age and comorbidities are risk factors for severe COVID-19 outcomes in RA patients. Glucocorticoids may be associated with a higher risk of severe COVID-19 outcomes, while other DMARDs do not show the same correlation. Further studies are needed to understand the effects of specific DMARDs on COVID-19 outcomes and optimize telemedicine in RA management.
CURRENT OPINION IN RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
Cynthia S. Crowson, Tina M. Gunderson, Hayley J. Dykhoff, Elena Myasoedova, Elizabeth J. Atkinson, Vanessa L. Kronzer, Caitrin M. Coffey, John M. Davis
Summary: This study comprehensively assessed the burden of multimorbidity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and found that RA patients have a higher prevalence of multimorbidity compared to non-RA patients. Interstitial lung disease, fibromyalgia, osteoarthritis, and osteoporosis were common morbidities in RA patients.
Article
Rheumatology
Joanna Kedra, Alexandre Lafourcade, Bernard Combe, Maxime Dougados, David Hajage, Bruno Fautrel
Summary: This study assessed the impact of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) on 10-year outcomes in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and found that early initiation of conventional synthetic DMARDs can reduce the risk of functional and structural outcomes.
Article
Rheumatology
Aida Malek Mahdavi, Mojtaba Varshochi, Mehrzad Hajialilo, Saeed Dastgiri, Raha Khabbazi, Alireza Khabbazi
Summary: Factors associated with COVID-19, clinical manifestations, and prognosis were assessed in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients compared with the index population. Female, obesity, diabetes, pulmonary disease, chronic kidney disease (CKD), use of prednisolone > 5mg/d, and TNF alpha inhibitors (TNFis) were independent predictors of COVID-19 in RA patients. Admission in hospital, need for ICU care, and mortality were observed in 38%, 11.9%, and 8.6% of RA patients with COVID-19.
CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
Letter
Rheumatology
Johan Roennelid, Oerjan Dahlstroem, Charlotte Dahle, Christopher Sjoewall
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Viktor Molander, Hannah Bower, Thomas Frisell, Benedicte Delcoigne, Daniela Di Giuseppe, Johan Askling
Summary: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) have a higher incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared to those treated with other biological disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs), especially in terms of pulmonary embolism (PE).
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Kristina Lejon, Urban Hellman, Anjani Kumar, Helena Forsblad-d'Elia
Summary: The purpose of this study was to investigate the changes in different cell types and disease-related factors in patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) from northern Sweden. The study found a significant reduction in the number of TFH cells, plasmablasts, and B memory cells in AS patients, which may be related to an aberrant humoral immune response associated with inflammation. Some cell types in female patients were negatively correlated with inflammation markers.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Erik Lonnblom, Monica Leu Agelii, Outi Sareila, Lei Cheng, Bingze Xu, Johan Viljanen, Ingiald Hafstrom, Maria L. E. Andersson, Goran Bergstrom, Anna-Karin Hultgard Ekwall, Anna Rudin, Alf Kastbom, Christopher Sjowall, Lennart T. H. Jacobsson, Jan Kihlberg, Inger Gjertsson, Rikard Holmdahl
Summary: A multiplex immunoassay was developed and characterized for detecting autoantibodies against peptides derived from proteins associated with the development of arthritis. The study identified specific autoantibodies with high discriminatory capacity for early seronegative rheumatoid arthritis, which can be used for early diagnosis of the disease.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Chiara Starvaggi Cucuzza, Elisa Longinetti, Nicolas Ruffin, Bjoern Evertsson, Ingrid Kockum, Maja Jagodic, Faiez Al Nimer, Thomas Frisell, Fredrik Piehl
Summary: This study aimed to determine the clinical and neuroradiologic disease activity, as well as B-cell repopulation dynamics, after implementing extended rituximab dosing in RRMS. The results showed that extended dosing intervals did not increase the risk of relapse in RRMS, and the dynamics of total B-cell and memory B-cell repopulation varied considerably.
NEUROLOGY-NEUROIMMUNOLOGY & NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Thomas Frisell, Hannah Bower, Matilda Morin, Eva Baecklund, Daniela Di Giuseppe, Benedicte Delcoigne, Nils Feltelius, Helena Forsblad-d'Elia, Elisabet Lindqvist, Ulf Lindstroem, Johan Askling
Summary: The objective of this study was to assess and compare the incidence rates of key safety outcomes for individual targeted synthetic or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/ts DMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study found that the b/tsDMARDs currently used to treat RA have acceptable and largely similar safety profiles, but differences exist in particular concerning tolerability and specific infection risks.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Andrei Barbulescu, Arvid Sjolander, Benedicte Delcoigne, Johan Askling, Thomas Frisell
Summary: This study compared the incidence of serious infections between different oral glucocorticoid dose patterns in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The results showed that higher doses and recent exposure to glucocorticoids are associated with an increased risk of serious infections. This study provides an explanation for the conflicting results in observational studies.
Letter
Pediatrics
Georgios Karamanis, Thomas Frisell, Mats Holmberg, Maria Halldin, Sara Sylven, Alkistis Skalkidou, Fotios C. Papadopoulos
Summary: This study investigates the occurrence of idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IHH) in individuals in Sweden who are undergoing gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue (GnRHa) treatment for gender dysphoria.
Article
Rheumatology
Karin Bengtsson, Johan Askling, Mattias Lorentzon, Bjoern Rosengren, Anna Deminger, Eva Klingberg, Lennart Jacobsson, Helena Forsblad-d'Elia
Summary: Both men and women with AS have a slightly higher risk of non-vertebral fractures than the general population, with men having a particularly higher risk of fractures of the proximal humerus, distal forearm or hip.
Article
Cell Biology
Sandra Lilja, Xinxiu Li, Martin Smelik, Eun Jung Lee, Joseph Loscalzo, Pratheek Bellur Marthanda, Lang Hu, Mattias Magnusson, Oleg Sysoev, Huan Zhang, Yelin Zhao, Christopher Sjowall, Danuta Gawel, Hui Wang, Mikael Benson
Summary: By sequencing the single-cell RNA of a mouse model for immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), we found complex expression changes in all analyzed organs, even if only joints showed inflammation signs. We constructed a multi-organ multicellular disease model that reveals molecular interactions within and between organs, suggesting that inflammation is regulated by the balance of pro- and anti-inflammatory regulators and pathways. Meta-analyses of human IMIDs show a similar on/off switch system, which has the potential to prioritize, diagnose, and treat URs combinations in IMIDs, subgroups, and individual patients. This potential is supported by UR analyses in over 600 sera from systemic lupus erythematosus patients.
CELL REPORTS MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Shan Cao, Yixuan Li, Rui Song, Xianyi Meng, Maximilian Fuchs, Chunguang Liang, Katerina Kachler, Xinyu Meng, Jinming Wen, Ursula Schloetzer-Schrehardt, Verena Taudte, Arne Gessner, Meik Kunz, Ulrike Schleicher, Mario M. Zaiss, Alf Kastbom, Xiaoxiang Chen, Georg Schett, Aline Bozec
Summary: The study revealed that L-arginine can ameliorate arthritis and bone erosion by altering metabolic pathways in osteoclasts and perturbing purine metabolism.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
C. Feldthusen, M. Hallstrom, A. d'Elia, A. Deminger, U. Kiltz, H. Forsblad-d'Elia
Summary: The objective of this study was to translate the ASAS HI EFIS into Swedish and culturally adapt it for a Swedish context, and to assess the construct validity of the Swedish version of ASAS HI and test-retest reliability in ASAS HI and EFIS in Swedish patients with AS. The results showed that the Swedish version of ASAS HI is valid and reliable, and recommended for assessing the impact of AS on global functioning and health.
SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Ioannis Parodis, Julius Lindblom, Nursen Cetrez, Leonardo Palazzo, Henri Ala, Frederic A. Houssiau, Christopher Sjoewall, Brad H. Rovin
Summary: In this study, we evaluated the efficacy of belimumab in preventing de novo renal flares and identified factors associated with renal flare occurrence. We found that Asian origin, positive baseline anti-double stranded DNA levels, and increasing mean prednisone dose during follow-up were associated with de novo renal flares.
KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Helga Westerlind, Bente Glintborg, Hilde Berner Hammer, Saedis Saevarsdottir, Niels Steen Krogh, Merete Lund Hetland, Ellen-Margrethe Hauge, Isabel Martinez Tejada, Joseph Sexton, Johan Askling
Summary: This study aims to describe how data harmonization can be achieved in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and found that the proportion of patients reaching remission in RA treatment is low.
Article
Rheumatology
Anna Hedenstedt, Sarah Reid, Ahmed Sayadi, Maija-Leena Eloranta, Elisabeth Skoglund, Karin Bolin, Martina Frodlund, Karoline Lerang, Andreas Joensen, Solbritt Rantapaeae-Dahlqvist, Anders A. Bengtsson, Anna Rudin, Oyvind Molberg, Christopher Sjoewall, Johanna K. Sandling, Dag Leonard
Summary: This study found that the genetic burden related to B cell function is associated with dsDNA antibody development and lupus nephritis in SLE patients.
LUPUS SCIENCE & MEDICINE
(2023)