Rheumatoid Arthritis News

On May 11, Icelandic-based drug developer Alvotech filed a lawsuit against AbbVie seeking to undo what it alleges is a “minefield” of “invalid” patents surrounding what is arguably the pharma giant’s most prized possession: Humira.

A study of patients who received care at Veterans Affairs centers found that rheumatoid arthritis is linked to a 25% higher risk for COVID-19, and a 35% increased risk for related hospitalization and death, according to data.

To avoid perpetuating misinformation regarding rheumatic diseases, rheumatologists should ensure they are aware of the available evidence – or lack thereof – for some of the popular myths patient hold about their disease, noted a speaker at the EULAR 2021 Congress.

The American College of Rheumatology has released its updated treatment guidelines for rheumatoid arthritis, with a strong emphasis on the use of methotrexate before adding or switching to DMARDs, according to the lead author.

Patients who received rheumatology care from nurse practitioners or physician assistants rated their overall experience similarly to those who saw a rheumatologist, according to survey data published in Arthritis Care & Research.

Routine care for inflammatory arthritis should include self-management strategies that feature problem-solving, goal-setting and, if possible, cognitive behavioral therapy, according to new EULAR recommendations.

While the patient global assessment has utility in measuring personal experience in rheumatoid arthritis, some experts believe that eliminating or replacing it with another measure may be preferable, according to presenters who debated the issue at the EULAR 2021 Congress.

Air pollution is a predictor of poor response to biological treatment in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis, according to a poster session at the EULAR 2021 Congress.

Tapering conventional synthetic DMARDs to a half-dose was inferior to stable-dose regimens for preventing flares during a 1-year period among patients in rheumatoid arthritis remission, according to data published in JAMA.

Upadacitinib continues to maintain higher levels of clinical response, compared with adalimumab, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis through 3 years, according to data presented at the EULAR 2021 Virtual Congress.