Rheumatoid Arthritis News

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are each associated with an increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis, independent of smoking and other variables, according to data published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

A newly formed organization, the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance, has launched an international registry to collect data on patients with rheumatic diseases who may or may not have contracted the infection that is causing the global pandemic. The aim is to aid clinicians and researchers in real time as the situation evolves.

The American College of Rheumatology, the Lupus Foundation of America, the Arthritis Foundation and the American Academy of Dermatology have issued a joint statement calling on Vice President Mike Pence to address shortages of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, following comments from White House regarding their potential use in treating COVID-19.

Although the risk for breast cancer is reduced among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, there is evidence of an equally pronounced risk reduction prior to RA diagnosis that is unexplained by hormonal risk factors, according to findings published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

Late last week, President Donald Trump sent shockwaves through the medical industry when he announced in a press conference that the FDA had approved the anti-malarial hydroxychloroquine to treat patients infected with coronavirus.

High cumulative use of oral glucocorticoids was associated with excess incidence of hypertension, according to research published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal.

The rheumatoid arthritis drug sarilumab is set to enter a clinical trial program for patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19 infection, according to a joint statement released by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Sanofi.

The efficacy of peficitinib was maintained or improved long-term during a period of up to 6 years, and was well-tolerated, among Japanese, Korean and Taiwanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis, according to data published in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

Treatment with TNF inhibitors are associated with an increased — albeit still low — risk for neuroinflammatory disease in patients with ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis, but not rheumatoid arthritis, according to data published in the Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases.

A review of 75 adalimumab clinical trials in adult and pediatric patients demonstrated low rates of inflammatory bowel disease adverse events, according to data published in Arthritis Care & Research.