Review
Dermatology
Yuliya Lytvyn, Shahmina Rahat, Asfandyar Mufti, Adrian Witol, Ahmed Bagit, Muskaan Sachdeva, Jensen Yeung
Summary: This systematic review found that biologic agents, including intravenous immunoglobulin, rituximab, and tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors, showed promising efficacy in patients with MMP. However, further randomized clinical trials with long-term follow-up are necessary to confirm their safety and effectiveness.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF DERMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Marco Sebastiani, Vincenzo Venerito, Serena Bugatti, Chiara Bazzani, Martina Biggioggero, Luca Petricca, Rosario Foti, Alessandra Bortoluzzi, Silvia Balduzzi, Elisa Visalli, Bruno Frediani, Andreina Manfredi, Elisa Gremese, Ennio Favalli, Florenzo Iannone, Gianfranco Ferraccioli, Giovanni Lapadula
Summary: After failure of biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) such as TCZ or RTX, using tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) or other mechanisms of action as a second-line treatment shows higher retention rates, which should be considered when treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Virginia Solitano, Antonio Facciorusso, Tine Jess, Christopher Ma, Cesare Hassan, Alessandro Repici, Vipul Jairath, Alessandro Armuzzi, Siddharth Singh
Summary: In patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), no significant difference in the risk of serious infections was observed between advanced therapies. Vedolizumab may have a lower risk of serious infections compared to TNFa antagonists in patients with ulcerative colitis, but not in Crohn's disease. Ustekinumab may be more effective than TNFa antagonists and vedolizumab in patients with Crohn's disease.
CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Balazs Odler, Regina Riedl, Philipp Gauckler, Jae Il Shin, Johannes Leierer, Peter A. Merkel, William St Clair, Fernando Fervenza, Duvuru Geetha, Paul Monach, David Jayne, Rona M. Smith, Alexander Rosenkranz, Ulrich Specks, John H. Stone, Andreas Kronbichler
Summary: This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with severe infections in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV). The use of low-dose TMP/SMX was found to be associated with a reduced risk of severe infections in patients treated with either rituximab (RTX) or cyclophosphamide (CYC)/azathioprine (AZA). Reduced B cell subpopulations at the start of treatment may be a useful indicator of reduced immunocompetence.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Omid Rezahosseini, Mie Sylow Liljendahl, Nikolai Loft, Dina Leth Moller, Zitta Barrella Harboe, Mads Kirchheiner Rasmussen, Kawa Khaled Ajgeiy, Alexander Egeberg, Lone Skov, Susanne Dam Nielsen
Summary: Immunosuppressive agents may increase the risk of infections with human alphaherpesviruses. In this study, the incidence and risk of alphaherpesvirus infections were found to be comparable between patients on MTX and TNF-alpha inhibitors, while the use of IL-17 inhibitors was associated with a lower risk.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Johanna Holmgren, Anna Froborg, Isabella Visuri, Jonas Halfvarson, Henrik Hjortswang, Pontus Karling, Par Myrelid, Ola Olen, Jonas F. Ludvigsson, Olof Grip
Summary: In patients with inflammatory bowel disease, the incidence rate of serious infection did not increase with the use of anti-TNF therapy and actually decreased more than 1 year after treatment initiation.
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Jerome Hadjadj, Alice Canzian, Omer Karadag, Anne Contis, Francois Maurier, Sebastien Sanges, Silvia Sartorelli, Laure Denis, Claire de Moreuil, Cecile-Audrey Durel, Stephane Durupt, Marie Jachiet, Diane Rouzaud, Carlo Salvarani, Roberto Padoan, Lorenzo Dagna, Fabrice Bonnet, Christian Agard, Thomas Moulinet, Marion Hermet, Raluca Sterpu, Alexandre Thibault Jacques Maria, Jeremy Keraen, Loic Guillevin, David Jayne, Benjamin Terrier
Summary: This study investigates the effectiveness and safety of biologics, particularly TCZ, in treating relapsing and/or refractory polyarteritis nodosa (PAN) patients. The results suggest that TCZ may be effective in managing PAN, but further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Article
Rheumatology
Muhammad R. A. Shipa, Maria Di Cicco, Emese Balogh, Naila A. Nitu, M. D. Mainuddin, Naveen Bhadauria, Dev Mukerjee, Euthalia Roussou
Summary: This study compared the drug-survival rates of second-line therapies, TNFi and different-mode-of-action biologics (BDMA-rituximab/tocilizumab/abatacept), in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The results showed that BDMA was more likely to be sustained as a second-line biologic in seropositive patients, especially in those without prior exposure to monoclonal-TNFi.
MODERN RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Dermatology
Yuliya Lytvyn, Asfandyar Mufti, Khalad Maliyar, Muskaan Sachdeva, Jensen Yeung
Summary: This study summarized the clinical outcomes of paradoxical pyoderma gangrenosum onset in patients on biologic therapy. Most patients developed PG after initiating rituximab or TNF-α inhibitors, with the majority discontinuing biologic use. Treatment options included intravenous immunoglobulins, oral corticosteroids, and antibiotics.
ADVANCES IN SKIN & WOUND CARE
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Zelin Yun, Lizhi Duan, Xiangjun Liu, Qingmeng Cai, Chun Li
Summary: Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune disease characterized by thrombosis and pregnancy morbidity. Anticoagulation is the primary treatment, but is not always effective. This review explores the potential of biologics, such as rituximab and eculizumab, as targeted treatments for APS management.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Siddharth Singh, Herbert C. Heien, Jeph Herrin, Parambir S. Dulai, Lindsey Sangaralingham, Nilay D. Shah, William J. Sandborn
Summary: A retrospective cohort study found that vedolizumab was associated with a lower risk of serious infections compared to TNFa antagonists in patients with ulcerative colitis, but no significant differences were observed in patients with Crohn's disease.
CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Kim Lauper, Lianne Kearsley-Fleet, James B. Galloway, Kath D. Watson, Kimme L. Hyrich, Mark Lunt
Summary: This study evaluated the incidence of serious infection (SI) and active tuberculosis (TB) among different biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. The results indicated that the risk of serious infections does not appear to be influenced by the line of therapy in patients with RA. However, the risk of TB seems to be more frequent during the initial lines of treatment or prior to 2009.
Article
Rheumatology
Konstantinos Thomas, Evangelia Argyriou, Noemin Kapsala, Alexandros Panagiotopoulos, Aglaia Chalkia, Emilia Hadziyannis, Kyriaki Boki, Pelagia Katsimbri, Dimitrios T. Boumpas, Panagiota Giannou, Dimitrios Petras, Dimitrios Vassilopoulos
Summary: In patients with ANCA-associated vasculitides, the incidence of infections is higher during induction with cyclophosphamide compared to rituximab, while the infection rates are similar between rituximab and other agents used for maintenance therapy. The need for plasmapheresis and/or dialysis is an independent factor associated with infections.
ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Dermatology
Ozge Zorlu, Emel Bulbul Baskan, Serkan Yazici, Deniz Sigirli, Ferah Budak, Hayriye Saricaoglu, Kenan Aydogan
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the factors affecting response to anti-TNF alpha and interleukin-12/23 therapies. The results showed that infliximab had the longest drug survival as the first biologic agent, while etanercept had the lowest anti-drug antibody count. HLA-Cw6 negativity, late-onset psoriasis, smoking, and alcohol use were identified as risk factors for treatment failure.
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGICAL TREATMENT
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
Natalia Mena-Vazquez, Francisco Javier Godoy-Navarrete, Sara Manrique-Arija, Maria Carmen Aguilar-Hurtado, Carmen Maria Romero-Barco, Inmaculada Urena-Garnica, F. Espildora, Isabel Anon-Onate, Lorena Perez-Albaladejo, Carmen Gomez-Cano, Francisco Gabriel Jimenez-Nunez, Maria Isabel Padin-Martin, Antonio Fernandez-Nebro
Summary: The study found that most patients with RA-ILD receiving DMARD treatment were able to stabilize lung function and control inflammatory activity well. Non-anti-TNF DMARDs reduce the risk of worsening lung disease in 90% of patients, while RA inflammatory activity and smoking are associated with worsening.
CLINICAL RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
Letter
Rheumatology
Pedro M. Machado, Martin Schaefer, Anja Strangfeld, Laure Gossec, Milena Gianfrancesco, Saskia Lawson-Tovey, Elsa F. Mateus, Loreto Carmona, Kimme L. Hyrich, Philip C. Robinson, Jinoos Yazdany
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Letter
Rheumatology
Martin Schaefer, Anja Strangfeld, Kimme L. Hyrich, Loreto Carmona, Milena Gianfrancesco, Saskia Lawson-Tovey, Elsa F. Mateus, Laure Gossec, Philip C. Robinson, Jinoos Yazdany, Pedro M. Machado
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
James M. Gwinnutt, Maud Wieczorek, Andra Balanescu, Heike A. Bischoff-Ferrari, Annelies Boonen, Giulio Cavalli, Savia de Souza, Annette de Thurah, Thomas E. Dorner, Rikke Helene Moe, Polina Putrik, Javier Rodriguez-Carrio, Lucia Silva-Fernandez, Tanja Stamm, Karen Walker-Bone, Joep Welling, Mirjana Zlatkovic-Svenda, Francis Guillemin, Suzanne M. M. Verstappen
Summary: A taskforce in Europe has reviewed the literature and developed recommendations on lifestyle behaviors for rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. They have identified five overarching principles and 18 specific recommendations based on available evidence. The recommendations cover various lifestyle factors such as exercise, diet, weight, alcohol, smoking, and work participation.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Daniel Aletaha, Andreas Kerschbaumer, Kastriot Kastrati, Christian Dejaco, Maxime Dougados, Iain B. McInnes, Naveed Sattar, Tanja A. Stamm, Tsutomu Takeuchi, Michael Trauner, Desiree van der Heijde, Marieke Voshaar, Kevin L. Winthrop, Angelo Ravelli, Neil Betteridge, Gerd-Ruediger R. Burmester, Johannes W. J. Bijlsma, Vivian Bykerk, Roberto Caporali, Ernest H. Choy, Catalin Codreanu, Bernard Combe, Mary K. Crow, Maarten de Wit, Paul Emery, Roy M. Fleischmann, Cem Gabay, Merete Lund Hetland, Kimme L. Hyrich, Annamaria Iagnocco, John D. Isaacs, Joel M. Kremer, Xavier Mariette, Peter Merkel, Eduardo F. Mysler, Peter Nash, Michael T. Nurmohamed, Karel Pavelka, Gyula Poor, Andrea Rubbert-Roth, Hendrik Schulze-Koops, Anja Strangfeld, Yoshiya Tanaka, Josef S. Smolen
Summary: This paper is an updated consensus document on the medical use of IL-6 pathway inhibition in the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The document provides comprehensive consensus statements based on systematic literature research and expert opinion, covering various aspects of IL-6 pathway inhibitors, including dosing, indications, and clinical considerations.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
James M. Gwinnutt, Sam Norton, Kimme L. Hyrich, Mark Lunt, Bernard Combe, Nathalie Rincheval, Adeline Ruyssen-Witrand, Bruno Fautrel, Daniel F. McWilliams, David A. Walsh, Elena Nikiphorou, Patrick D. W. Kiely, Adam Young, Jacqueline R. Chipping, Alex MacGregor, Suzanne M. M. Verstappen
Summary: This study investigated the impact of social support, financial status, and lifestyle on the development of excess disability in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The study found that individuals with less social support, worse financial situation, less exercise, and lower education were more likely to have excess disability. These findings were validated in two independent datasets.
ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Manuel Pombo-Suarez, Carlos Sanchez-Piedra, Juan Gomez-Reino, Kim Lauper, Denis Mongin, Florenzo Iannone, Karel Pavelka, Dan C. Nordstrom, Nevsun Inanc, Catalin Codreanu, Kimme L. Hyrich, Denis Choquette, Anja Strangfeld, Burkhard F. Leeb, Ziga Rotar, Ana Rodrigues, Eirik Klami Kristianslund, Tore K. Kvien, Ori Elkayam, Galina Lukina, Sytske Anne Bergstra, Axel Finckh, Delphine Sophie Courvoisier
Summary: The objective of this study was to compare the effectiveness of cycling Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) with switching to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The results showed that both strategies had similar observed drug retention rates after 2 years, but cycling JAKi was associated with higher retention after adjusting for confounders. It was also found that if the first JAKi was discontinued due to an adverse event (AE), it was more likely that the second JAKi would also be stopped due to an AE. Improvement in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) over time was similar in both strategies.
ANNALS OF THE RHEUMATIC DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Ruth E. Costello, Lianne Kearsley-Fleet, Janet E. McDonagh, Kimme Hyrich, Jenny H. Humphreys
Summary: This study found that two-thirds of young people with JIA continue to receive specialist care beyond age 18. Older age at diagnosis, female gender, less deprivation, and a childhood diagnosis of uveitis were associated with continuing specialist care.
Article
Rheumatology
Lianne Kearsley-Fleet, Eileen Baildam, Michael W. Beresford, Sharon Douglas, Helen E. Foster, Taunton R. Southwood, Kimme L. Hyrich, Coziana Ciurtin
Summary: This analysis identified factors associated with successful cessation of biologics for remission in JIA as absence of uveitis, prior treatment with tocilizumab, and starting biologics earlier in the disease course.
Article
Rheumatology
Sinead Maguire, Samar Al-Emadi, Paula Alba, Mathia Cecilia Aguiar, Talal Al Lawati, Gelsomina Alle, Bonnie Bermas, Suleman Bhana, Anic Branimir, Inita Bulina, Megan Clowse, Karina Cogo, Iris Colunga, Claire Cook, Karen J. Cortez, Kathryn Dao, Milena Gianfrancesco, Monique Gore-Massey, Laure Gossec, Rebecca Grainger, Jonathon Hausman, Tiffany Y. T. Hsu, Kimme Hyrich, Carolina Isnardi, Yumeko Kawano, Rachael Kilding, Daria A. Kusevich, Saskia Lawson-Tovey, Jean Liew, Eoghan McCarthy, Anna Montgumery, Sebastian Moyano, Noreen Nasir, Ivan Padjen, Charalampos Papagoras, Naomi J. Patel, Mariana Pera, Cecilia Pisoni, Guillermo Pons-Estel, Antonio L. Quiambao, Rosana Quintana, Eric Ruderman, Sebastian Sattui, Veronica Savio, Savino Sciascia, Marieta Sencarova, Rosa Serrano Morales, Faizah Siddique, Emily Sirotich, Jeffrey Sparks, Anja Strangfeld, Paul Sufka, Helen Tanner, Yohana Tissera, Zachary Wallace, Marina L. Werner, Leanna Wise, Angus B. Worthing, JoAnn Zell, Julija Zepa, Pedro M. Machado, Jinoos Yazdany, Philip Robinson, Richard Conway
Summary: This study describes obstetric outcomes based on COVID-19 vaccination status in pregnant women with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs). The results show that unvaccinated pregnant women have a higher rate of preterm births, and the need for COVID-19 pharmacological treatment is rare regardless of vaccination status.
Article
Rheumatology
Ryan M. Hum, Pauline Ho, Nisha Nair, Meghna Jani, Ann W. Morgan, John D. Isaacs, Anthony G. Wilson, Kimme L. Hyrich, Darren Plant, Anne Barton
Summary: This study suggests that higher levels of TNF-a inhibitor serum drug levels (SDLs) are associated with good treatment response in fully adherent patients. Interventions to improve SDLs, such as encouraging adherence, may improve treatment response. The identified SDL cut-offs for adalimumab and certolizumab may be useful in clinical practice.
Article
Rheumatology
Manuel F. Ugarte-Gil, Graciela S. Alarcon, Andrea M. Seet, Zara Izadi, Anna D. Montgomery, Ali Duarte-Garcia, Emily L. Gilbert, Maria O. Valenzuela-Almada, Leanna Wise, Jeffrey A. Sparks, Tiffany Y. -T. Hsu, Kristin M. D'Silva, Naomi J. Patel, Emily Sirotich, Jean W. Liew, Jonathan S. Hausmann, Paul Sufka, Rebecca Grainger, Suleman Bhana, Zachary Wallace, Lindsay Jacobsohn, Anja Strangfeld, Elsa F. Mateus, Kimme L. Hyrich, Laure Gossec, Loreto Carmona, Saskia Lawson-Tovey, Lianne Kearsley-Fleet, Martin Schaefer, Pedro M. Machado, Philip C. Robinson, Milena Gianfrancesco, Jinoos Yazdany
Summary: A study on individuals with SLE in the US found that Black and Hispanic patients had higher odds of experiencing more severe COVID-19 outcomes compared to White patients, which may be attributed to socioeconomic and health disparities.
ARTHRITIS CARE & RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Rheumatology
Joeri W. van Straalen, Lianne Kearsley-Fleet, Jens Klotsche, Sytze de Roock, Kirsten Minden, Arnd Heiligenhaus, Kimme L. Hyrich, Joke H. de Boer, Lovro Lamot, Alma N. Olivieri, Romina Gallizzi, Elzbieta Smolewska, Enrique Faugier, Serena Pastore, Philip J. Hashkes, Cristina N. Herrera, Wolfgang Emminger, Rita Consolini, Nico M. Wulffraat, Nicolino Ruperto, Joost F. Swart
Summary: This study aimed to develop and externally validate a prediction model for new-onset chronic uveitis in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). Data from the international Pharmachild registry were used to develop a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model. The model was subsequently validated and recalibrated in two inception cohorts. The results showed that the model had acceptable performance and could be used for risk estimation in clinical practice.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Meghna Jani, Belay Birlie Yimer, David Selby, Mark Lunt, Goran Nenadic, William G. Dixon
Summary: This study aimed to examine the impact of incorporating narrative prescribing instructions and subsequent drug preparation assumptions on adverse event rates, using a worked example of opioids and fracture risk. The results showed that assumptions made during the drug preparation process, especially for those with variability in prescription instructions, can impact subsequent risk estimates.
PHARMACOEPIDEMIOLOGY AND DRUG SAFETY
(2023)
Article
Virology
Lucie Seyler, Els Van Nedervelde, Diederik De Cock, Claudia Mann, Karen Pien, Sabine D. Allard, Thomas Demuyser
Summary: This study utilized a registry that collected data automatically from electronic patient health records to compare the clinical data and severity scores of patients admitted for COVID-19 during four SARS-CoV-2 variant waves. The study found that hospitalized COVID-19 patients in Belgium showed significant differences in profiles across the four variant waves. Patients were younger during the Alpha and Delta waves and frailer during the Omicron period. The study also discussed host factors, vaccination status, and other confounders to provide context for these findings.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Paul I. Palmer, Caroline M. Wainwright, Bo Dong, Ross I. Maidment, Kevin G. Wheeler, Nicola Gedney, Jonathan E. Hickman, Nima Madani, Sonja S. Folwell, Gamal Abdo, Richard P. Allan, Emily C. L. Black, Liang Feng, Masilin Gudoshava, Keith Haines, Chris Huntingford, Mary Kilavi, Mark F. Lunt, Ahmed Shaaban, Andrew G. Turner
Summary: Eastern Africa experiences bimodal rainfall with long rains and short rains, and changes in rainfall have significant socioeconomic and environmental impacts. Teleconnections like El Nino-Southern Oscillation and the Indian Ocean Dipole play a major role in interannual variability. The long rains have been getting drier while the short rains have become wetter. These patterns affect flooding, droughts, food and energy systems, diseases, and ecosystem stability. Climate projections suggest that by 2030-2040, the short rains will deliver more rainfall than the long rains, posing challenges for agriculture and public health emergencies. Mitigation efforts should focus on agriculture, clean water, medical and emergency infrastructure, and adaptation strategies.
NATURE REVIEWS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
