Methotrexate

Among patients with stable psoriatic arthritis receiving tofacitinib with methotrexate, some may be able to discontinue methotrexate without changes in disease activity or safety, according to data published in The Lancet Rheumatology.

A systematic review of 161 studies showed a lack of conclusive evidence on the influence and safety of immunosuppressive drugs on male sexual health, according to a study published in Human Reproduction Update.

Among patients with rheumatoid arthritis, herpes zoster is more common in those treated with upadacitinib than with adalimumab plus methotrexate or with methotrexate alone, according to a speaker at ACR Convergence 2020.

In patients with rheumatoid arthritis who achieve remission with combination therapy and then withdraw either etanercept or methotrexate, monotherapy with the former is superior to the latter for remission maintenance, noted a speaker here.

In this video, Dana DiRenzo, MD, MHS, instructor of medicine at Johns Hopkins, summarized “The Great Debate” at ACR 2020

Patients with primary knee osteoarthritis who received at least 3 months of oral methotrexate demonstrated significant improvement in physical function and inflammation vs. patients who received glucosamine, noted a presenter at ACR 2020.

The ACR’s annual Great Debate featured spirited arguments made for and against the use of janus kinase inhibitors before biologic therapy in the setting of methotrexate failure in rheumatoid arthritis.

Tuberculosis screening and clinical surveillance are needed for patients prescribed methotrexate — especially alongside corticosteroids or other immunosuppressants — in tuberculosis-endemic areas, according to a speaker at ACR Convergence.

While the broad range of available therapies to treat rheumatoid arthritis provides clinicians with options, there is still no clear-cut treatment algorithm for every patient, according to a presenter at the 2020 Congress of Clinical Rheumatology-West.

TNF inhibitors and methotrexate produced similar reductions in HbA1c among patients with psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis who also have diabetes, according to data published in BMC Rheumatology.