Autoimmune And Rheumatic Diseases

Although chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy has raised hopes for long-term remission in autoimmune disease, it has several limitations that may be overcome instead through bispecific T-cell-engaging antibodies, according to a speaker.

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy improves not only lupus disease activity but also other related conditions that impact quality of life, according to a speaker at the Basic and Clinical Immunology for the Busy Clinician symposium.

A “complete eradication” of B cells with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy is responsible for the long-term, drug-free remission from autoimmune diseases observed after treatment, according to a speaker.

Black patients, particularly women, have died from systemic lupus erythematosus at disproportionately higher rates despite overall declines in mortality over the past 20 years, according to data published in Arthritis Care & Research.

Reducing glucocorticoid use in the treatment of giant cell arteritis and polymyalgia rheumatica — due to the steroid’s host of related toxicities and adverse effects — has long been a goal for rheumatologists.

A significant number of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis treated prior to the treat-to-target era demonstrated persistently active disease up to 5 years later, according to data from an Italian pediatric hospital.

Nearly 40% of pregnancy-capable patients with rheumatic disease are unaware of the potential impacts of their medications on pregnancy, including the possibility of birth defects, according to a study published in Pediatric Rheumatology.

Depression and anxiety among patients with inflammatory arthritis is significantly undertreated, with large proportions not receiving minimally adequate care, according to data published in Arthritis Research & Therapy.

Nearly all children with ANCA-associated vasculitis demonstrate active kidney disease at diagnosis, and their renal function status is strongly predictive of outcomes 1 year later, according to data published in Arthritis & Rheumatology.

A recent executive order from President Donald J. Trump pausing trillions of dollars in federal grant and loan funding has led to widespread confusion across the medical community, as experts await the ultimate result of multiple lawsuits.