The Year in Rheumatology

9 Facts About Step Therapy:  Step therapy policies may be blocking timely access to care for rheumatology patients, finds a new report by Xcenda, an AmerisourceBergen company. The report finds that patients are more likely to be nonadherent or pay out of their own pocket for drugs. Learn more in this slideshow.

Study Shows Promise in Immunotherapy for Rheumatoid Arthritis:  Researchers are exploring the possibility of using immune checkpoint inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis patients. A small study presented at the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) annual meeting earlier this month shows that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who were treated with immunotherapy, responded just as well as a comparable patient population with 12 of 22 patients experiencing flares.

Diabetes and RA: Explaining the Similarities:  Rheumatoid arthritis and type 2 diabetes mellitus share many of the same characteristics. Both are powered by abnormal glucose metabolism and both are associated with insulin resistance and adverse cardiovascular disease outcomes. In this slideshow, we highlight some of the similarities.

Insulin Resistance Linked to Rheumatoid Arthritis Flares:  Insulin resistance is independently associated with body mass index and synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis patients, shows new research published in Arthritis and Rheumatology.

Interleukin Inhibitors Linked with Higher Infection, Cancer Risk:  The use of interleukin inhibitors in patients with rheumatologic diseases is associated with higher rates of serious infections, opportunistic infections, and cancer, compared to placebo, say researchers writing in JAMA Network Open this month.

COPD Triples Mortality Risk in RA:  Patients with rheumatoid arthritis have a large comorbidity burden at the time of diagnosis, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and interstitial lung disease, but COPD is a particular concern, say researchers writing in Rheumatology this month.

Exposure to Multiple Industrial Air Pollutants Linked to RA Biomarker:  Exposure to industrial emissions of fine particles matter and sulfur dioxide are associated with the presence of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA), a characteristic biomarker for rheumatoid arthritis, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology in Atlanta on November 12.

First-Ever Guidance on CBD Use for Arthritic Pain:  The Arthritis Foundation has just released the first CBD guidance for adults with arthritis. CBD, or cannabidiol, a plant-based compound, has become popular among people with arthritis seeking to ease chronic joint pain. Learn more in this slideshow.

OK to Withdraw Methotrexate Post Tofacitinib Combo Treatment:  Rheumatoid arthritis patients who achieve low disease activity on tofacitinib in combination with methotrexate, should be able to discontinue methotrexate safely and without significant worsening of disease activity, especially if they are having trouble tolerating it, new research shows.

New JAK Inhibitor Approved for Rheumatoid Arthritis:  AbbVie announced on Friday that the Food and Drug Administration approved the oral once-daily JAK inhibitor Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for adults with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to methotrexate.

Arthritis Manifestations Differ in RA and OA Patients:  Anne-Mari Mustonen and colleagues in Finland have determined the respective fatty acid (FA) signatures found in the infrapatellar fat pad (IFP) and synovial fluid (SF) of patients with osteoarthritis (OA), and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). While the authors’ findings are inconclusive, they give insight into the complex alterations in fatty acid profiles found in knee arthropathies. They present their findings in a recent Arthritis Research & Therapy.

Biosimilars Report: Switching to Etanercept Biosimilar Doesn't Compromise Safety or Efficacy:  A second study published in May on the safety and efficacy of biosimilars, shows that switching rheumatoid arthritis patients from etanercept (Enbrel, Amgen) to its biosimilar etanercept-szzs (Erelzi, Sandoz), does not affect efficacy, safety or immunogenicity of etanercept.