Top in rheumatology: Highlights from ACR Convergence

Data presented at ACR Convergence revealed that breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infections among patients with rheumatic diseases were more common in those who were treated with CD20 inhibitors or mycophenolate.

A report on the presentation was the top story in rheumatology last week.

The second top story was about another study presented at ACR Convergence that found no association between messenger RNA COVID-19 vaccines and severe rheumatoid arthritis flares. However, the data revealed diminished vaccine responses in patients receiving rituximab or mycophenolate mofetil.

Read these and more top stories in rheumatology below:

Breakthrough COVID-19 in vaccinated patients linked to B-cell therapies, mycophenolate

Among fully vaccinated individuals with rheumatic diseases, breakthrough COVID-19 infections occurred most commonly in patients treated with B cell depleting agents or mycophenolate, according to data presented at ACR Convergence. Read more.

No link between mRNA COVID-19 vaccines and increased flare risk in rheumatic disease

mRNA COVID-19 vaccines were not linked to severe disease flares in patients with rheumatic diseases, although use of rituximab or mycophenolate mofetil dampened vaccine response, according to a presenter at ACR Convergence. Read more.

B-cell therapies, mycophenolate worsen COVID-19 vaccine response in inflammatory disease

Patients with chronic inflammatory disease on immunosuppressants, especially B-cell depleting agents, mycophenolate and glucocorticoids, exhibited poor antibody responses to the mRNA vaccine for COVID-19, according to a presenter. Read more.

‘Pearls and myths’: Oral, cutaneous signs of rheumatic disease hold ‘clue’ to intervention

Managing oral, ocular and cutaneous complications is critical to optimizing outcomes in conditions ranging from Sjögren’s syndrome to juvenile dermatomyositis, according to a presenter who offered a cross-section of “pearls and myths” at ACR Convergence. Read more.

Breakthrough COVID-19 infection risk highest in RA, gout, polydermatomyositis, vasculitis

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, gout, polydermatomyositis, vasculitis and those with multiple rheumatic diseases were at greatest risk for breakthrough COVID-19 infection, despite full or partial vaccination vs. those without rheumatic disease. Read more.