Article

Key clinical point: Standardized 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) showed significant loss of lung volume (LV) at acute exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD), which was associated with a significant increase in the risk for mortality.

Major finding: Patients with lower vs higher 3D-CT LV had shorter survival (median 2.8 vs 41.7 months; P < .001), with standardized 3D-CT LV being significantly associated with mortality at acute exacerbation of RA-ILD (hazard ratio 0.958; P < .001). Loss of LV was predominantly in the lower lobes at diagnosis and extended to the upper and lower lobes at acute exacerbation (P < .001).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective, observational study including 54 patients with a diagnosis of RA-ILD, 53 patients admitted with an acute exacerbation of RA-ILD, and 35 control individuals.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Tanaka Y et al. Standardised 3D-CT lung volumes for patients with acute exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 (Jul 17). doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead363

Key clinical point: Standardized 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) showed significant loss of lung volume (LV) at acute exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD), which was associated with a significant increase in the risk for mortality.

Major finding: Patients with lower vs higher 3D-CT LV had shorter survival (median 2.8 vs 41.7 months; P < .001), with standardized 3D-CT LV being significantly associated with mortality at acute exacerbation of RA-ILD (hazard ratio 0.958; P < .001). Loss of LV was predominantly in the lower lobes at diagnosis and extended to the upper and lower lobes at acute exacerbation (P < .001).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective, observational study including 54 patients with a diagnosis of RA-ILD, 53 patients admitted with an acute exacerbation of RA-ILD, and 35 control individuals.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Tanaka Y et al. Standardised 3D-CT lung volumes for patients with acute exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 (Jul 17). doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead363

Key clinical point: Standardized 3-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) showed significant loss of lung volume (LV) at acute exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD), which was associated with a significant increase in the risk for mortality.

Major finding: Patients with lower vs higher 3D-CT LV had shorter survival (median 2.8 vs 41.7 months; P < .001), with standardized 3D-CT LV being significantly associated with mortality at acute exacerbation of RA-ILD (hazard ratio 0.958; P < .001). Loss of LV was predominantly in the lower lobes at diagnosis and extended to the upper and lower lobes at acute exacerbation (P < .001).

Study details: The data come from a retrospective, observational study including 54 patients with a diagnosis of RA-ILD, 53 patients admitted with an acute exacerbation of RA-ILD, and 35 control individuals.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Tanaka Y et al. Standardised 3D-CT lung volumes for patients with acute exacerbation of rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease. Rheumatology (Oxford). 2023 (Jul 17). doi: 10.1093/rheumatology/kead363

Key clinical point: Opioids not only increase the risk for all-cause mortality among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but also carry a similar risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).

Major finding: The risk for MACE was similar among patients initiating opioids and those initiating NSAID (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.02; 95% CI 0.85-1.22); however, opioid initiators had a 33% higher risk for all-cause mortality compared with NSAID initiators (aHR 1.33; 95% CI 1.06-1.67).

Study details: This new user active comparator cohort study included patients with RA within the FORWARD databank and propensity-score matched patients initiating opioids (n = 6866) to those initiating NSAID (n = 13,689).

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Rheumatology Research Foundation Resident Preceptor Award. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Ozen G et al. Major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality with opioids versus NSAIDs initiation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023 (Jul 17). doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-224339

Key clinical point: Opioids not only increase the risk for all-cause mortality among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but also carry a similar risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).

Major finding: The risk for MACE was similar among patients initiating opioids and those initiating NSAID (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.02; 95% CI 0.85-1.22); however, opioid initiators had a 33% higher risk for all-cause mortality compared with NSAID initiators (aHR 1.33; 95% CI 1.06-1.67).

Study details: This new user active comparator cohort study included patients with RA within the FORWARD databank and propensity-score matched patients initiating opioids (n = 6866) to those initiating NSAID (n = 13,689).

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Rheumatology Research Foundation Resident Preceptor Award. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Ozen G et al. Major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality with opioids versus NSAIDs initiation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023 (Jul 17). doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-224339

Key clinical point: Opioids not only increase the risk for all-cause mortality among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) but also carry a similar risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID).

Major finding: The risk for MACE was similar among patients initiating opioids and those initiating NSAID (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.02; 95% CI 0.85-1.22); however, opioid initiators had a 33% higher risk for all-cause mortality compared with NSAID initiators (aHR 1.33; 95% CI 1.06-1.67).

Study details: This new user active comparator cohort study included patients with RA within the FORWARD databank and propensity-score matched patients initiating opioids (n = 6866) to those initiating NSAID (n = 13,689).

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Rheumatology Research Foundation Resident Preceptor Award. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Ozen G et al. Major adverse cardiovascular events and mortality with opioids versus NSAIDs initiation in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023 (Jul 17). doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-224339

Key clinical point: The use of combination therapy or biologics was associated with a lower risk for diabetes than methotrexate monotherapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with hydroxychloroquine having a significant protective effect on the development of diabetes.

Major finding: The risk for diabetes was significantly lower in the biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) periods (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.51; 95% CI 0.32-0.83), methotrexate combination periods (aHR 0.50; 95% CI 0.32-0.78), and other conventional DMARD periods (aHR 0.56; 95% CI 0.37-0.84) than in the methotrexate monotherapy periods. Hydroxychloroquine (aHR 0.52; P < .001) and sulfasalazine (aHR 0.69; P  =  .002) had a significant protective effect on diabetes development.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective cohort study that included 5530 adults with RA without diabetes.

Disclosures: This study did not declare any specific funding or conflicts of interest.

Source: Su YJ et al. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs associated with different diabetes risks in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. RMD Open. 2023;9:e003045 (Jul 17). doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003045

Key clinical point: The use of combination therapy or biologics was associated with a lower risk for diabetes than methotrexate monotherapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with hydroxychloroquine having a significant protective effect on the development of diabetes.

Major finding: The risk for diabetes was significantly lower in the biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) periods (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.51; 95% CI 0.32-0.83), methotrexate combination periods (aHR 0.50; 95% CI 0.32-0.78), and other conventional DMARD periods (aHR 0.56; 95% CI 0.37-0.84) than in the methotrexate monotherapy periods. Hydroxychloroquine (aHR 0.52; P < .001) and sulfasalazine (aHR 0.69; P  =  .002) had a significant protective effect on diabetes development.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective cohort study that included 5530 adults with RA without diabetes.

Disclosures: This study did not declare any specific funding or conflicts of interest.

Source: Su YJ et al. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs associated with different diabetes risks in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. RMD Open. 2023;9:e003045 (Jul 17). doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003045

Key clinical point: The use of combination therapy or biologics was associated with a lower risk for diabetes than methotrexate monotherapy in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with hydroxychloroquine having a significant protective effect on the development of diabetes.

Major finding: The risk for diabetes was significantly lower in the biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (DMARD) periods (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.51; 95% CI 0.32-0.83), methotrexate combination periods (aHR 0.50; 95% CI 0.32-0.78), and other conventional DMARD periods (aHR 0.56; 95% CI 0.37-0.84) than in the methotrexate monotherapy periods. Hydroxychloroquine (aHR 0.52; P < .001) and sulfasalazine (aHR 0.69; P  =  .002) had a significant protective effect on diabetes development.

Study details: The data come from a retrospective cohort study that included 5530 adults with RA without diabetes.

Disclosures: This study did not declare any specific funding or conflicts of interest.

Source: Su YJ et al. Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs associated with different diabetes risks in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. RMD Open. 2023;9:e003045 (Jul 17). doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003045

Key clinical point: Cleaning activities and dusty clothes laundry are underestimated yet potential sources of lifetime silicon dioxide (SiO₂) exposure in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); high SiO₂ exposure increases the risk for mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

Major finding: Cleaning activities were the major source of SiO₂ exposure in women with RA and control individuals, with the exposure scores for occupational and non-occupational cleaning activities and occupational dusty work clothes laundry (all P < .05) being higher in women with RA vs control individuals and high SiO₂ exposure was associated with a greater risk for mediastinal lymphadenopathy (adjusted odds ratio 6.3; 95% CI 1.4-27.7).

Study details: This retrospective, case-control study obtained lifetime SiO₂ exposure data from the Dust Exposure Life-Course Questionnaire administered to 97 patients with RA, including 76 women who were matched with 308 control individuals from the general population.

Disclosures: The SILICOSIS Project was sponsored by the European Research Council. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Sigaux J et al. Are cleaning activities a source of exposure to crystalline silica in women with rheumatoid arthritis? A case-control study. RMD Open. 2023;9:e003205 (Aug 2). doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003205

Key clinical point: Cleaning activities and dusty clothes laundry are underestimated yet potential sources of lifetime silicon dioxide (SiO₂) exposure in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); high SiO₂ exposure increases the risk for mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

Major finding: Cleaning activities were the major source of SiO₂ exposure in women with RA and control individuals, with the exposure scores for occupational and non-occupational cleaning activities and occupational dusty work clothes laundry (all P < .05) being higher in women with RA vs control individuals and high SiO₂ exposure was associated with a greater risk for mediastinal lymphadenopathy (adjusted odds ratio 6.3; 95% CI 1.4-27.7).

Study details: This retrospective, case-control study obtained lifetime SiO₂ exposure data from the Dust Exposure Life-Course Questionnaire administered to 97 patients with RA, including 76 women who were matched with 308 control individuals from the general population.

Disclosures: The SILICOSIS Project was sponsored by the European Research Council. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Sigaux J et al. Are cleaning activities a source of exposure to crystalline silica in women with rheumatoid arthritis? A case-control study. RMD Open. 2023;9:e003205 (Aug 2). doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003205

Key clinical point: Cleaning activities and dusty clothes laundry are underestimated yet potential sources of lifetime silicon dioxide (SiO₂) exposure in women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA); high SiO₂ exposure increases the risk for mediastinal lymphadenopathy.

Major finding: Cleaning activities were the major source of SiO₂ exposure in women with RA and control individuals, with the exposure scores for occupational and non-occupational cleaning activities and occupational dusty work clothes laundry (all P < .05) being higher in women with RA vs control individuals and high SiO₂ exposure was associated with a greater risk for mediastinal lymphadenopathy (adjusted odds ratio 6.3; 95% CI 1.4-27.7).

Study details: This retrospective, case-control study obtained lifetime SiO₂ exposure data from the Dust Exposure Life-Course Questionnaire administered to 97 patients with RA, including 76 women who were matched with 308 control individuals from the general population.

Disclosures: The SILICOSIS Project was sponsored by the European Research Council. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Sigaux J et al. Are cleaning activities a source of exposure to crystalline silica in women with rheumatoid arthritis? A case-control study. RMD Open. 2023;9:e003205 (Aug 2). doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2023-003205

Key clinical point: Abatacept showed similar efficacy and safety in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with vs without previous malignancies and did not increase the risk for malignancy or relapse.

Major finding: Patients with RA with and without previous malignancies had no significant differences in the disease activity scores for 28 Joints based on C-reactive protein (up to 60 months after initiating abatacept; P  =  .36), 10-year abatacept continuation rates (P  =  .70), and the incidence rates of malignancies after initiating abatacept (adjusted hazard ratio 0.99; P  =  1.00).

Study details: This retrospective study included 312 patients with RA who received abatacept, of whom 23.4% patients had previous malignancies when initiating abatacept.

Disclosures: This study was partly supported by JSPS KAKENHI and the Japan Rheumatism Foundation. Y Kunishita declared receiving personal fees from Bristol-Myers K.K. and Eisai, which are unrelated to this study. The other authors did not report any conflicts of interest.

Source: Kunishita Y et al. Efficacy and safety of abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with previous malignancy. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2023;15 (Aug 1). doi: 10.1177/1759720X231186874

Key clinical point: Abatacept showed similar efficacy and safety in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with vs without previous malignancies and did not increase the risk for malignancy or relapse.

Major finding: Patients with RA with and without previous malignancies had no significant differences in the disease activity scores for 28 Joints based on C-reactive protein (up to 60 months after initiating abatacept; P  =  .36), 10-year abatacept continuation rates (P  =  .70), and the incidence rates of malignancies after initiating abatacept (adjusted hazard ratio 0.99; P  =  1.00).

Study details: This retrospective study included 312 patients with RA who received abatacept, of whom 23.4% patients had previous malignancies when initiating abatacept.

Disclosures: This study was partly supported by JSPS KAKENHI and the Japan Rheumatism Foundation. Y Kunishita declared receiving personal fees from Bristol-Myers K.K. and Eisai, which are unrelated to this study. The other authors did not report any conflicts of interest.

Source: Kunishita Y et al. Efficacy and safety of abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with previous malignancy. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2023;15 (Aug 1). doi: 10.1177/1759720X231186874

Key clinical point: Abatacept showed similar efficacy and safety in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with vs without previous malignancies and did not increase the risk for malignancy or relapse.

Major finding: Patients with RA with and without previous malignancies had no significant differences in the disease activity scores for 28 Joints based on C-reactive protein (up to 60 months after initiating abatacept; P  =  .36), 10-year abatacept continuation rates (P  =  .70), and the incidence rates of malignancies after initiating abatacept (adjusted hazard ratio 0.99; P  =  1.00).

Study details: This retrospective study included 312 patients with RA who received abatacept, of whom 23.4% patients had previous malignancies when initiating abatacept.

Disclosures: This study was partly supported by JSPS KAKENHI and the Japan Rheumatism Foundation. Y Kunishita declared receiving personal fees from Bristol-Myers K.K. and Eisai, which are unrelated to this study. The other authors did not report any conflicts of interest.

Source: Kunishita Y et al. Efficacy and safety of abatacept in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with previous malignancy. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 2023;15 (Aug 1). doi: 10.1177/1759720X231186874

Key clinical point: The tapering of low-dose prednisolone over a 3-month schedule led to a moderate increase in disease activity to the levels of the placebo group, suggesting the feasibility of withdrawal of low-dose prednisolone in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after successful completion of 2 years of therapy.

Major finding: After 3 months of tapering, increase in the Disease Activity Score for 28 Joints was moderate and not significantly different for the prednisolone and placebo groups (between-group difference 0.16; P  =  .12), with flares being only numerically higher in the prednisolone vs placebo group (45% vs 33%; P  =  .12).

Study details: This observational controlled cohort study included 191 patients with RA age ≥ 65 years from the GLORIA trial who underwent linear tapering of 5 mg/day prednisolone or placebo after 2 years of administration, to zero over a period of 3 months.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. Several authors declared ties with various sources.

Source: Almayali AAH et al. Three-month tapering and discontinuation of long-term, low-dose glucocorticoids in senior patients with rheumatoid arthritis is feasible and safe: Placebo-controlled double blind tapering after the GLORIA trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023 (Aug 4). doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-223977

Key clinical point: The tapering of low-dose prednisolone over a 3-month schedule led to a moderate increase in disease activity to the levels of the placebo group, suggesting the feasibility of withdrawal of low-dose prednisolone in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after successful completion of 2 years of therapy.

Major finding: After 3 months of tapering, increase in the Disease Activity Score for 28 Joints was moderate and not significantly different for the prednisolone and placebo groups (between-group difference 0.16; P  =  .12), with flares being only numerically higher in the prednisolone vs placebo group (45% vs 33%; P  =  .12).

Study details: This observational controlled cohort study included 191 patients with RA age ≥ 65 years from the GLORIA trial who underwent linear tapering of 5 mg/day prednisolone or placebo after 2 years of administration, to zero over a period of 3 months.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. Several authors declared ties with various sources.

Source: Almayali AAH et al. Three-month tapering and discontinuation of long-term, low-dose glucocorticoids in senior patients with rheumatoid arthritis is feasible and safe: Placebo-controlled double blind tapering after the GLORIA trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023 (Aug 4). doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-223977

Key clinical point: The tapering of low-dose prednisolone over a 3-month schedule led to a moderate increase in disease activity to the levels of the placebo group, suggesting the feasibility of withdrawal of low-dose prednisolone in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) after successful completion of 2 years of therapy.

Major finding: After 3 months of tapering, increase in the Disease Activity Score for 28 Joints was moderate and not significantly different for the prednisolone and placebo groups (between-group difference 0.16; P  =  .12), with flares being only numerically higher in the prednisolone vs placebo group (45% vs 33%; P  =  .12).

Study details: This observational controlled cohort study included 191 patients with RA age ≥ 65 years from the GLORIA trial who underwent linear tapering of 5 mg/day prednisolone or placebo after 2 years of administration, to zero over a period of 3 months.

Disclosures: This study was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program. Several authors declared ties with various sources.

Source: Almayali AAH et al. Three-month tapering and discontinuation of long-term, low-dose glucocorticoids in senior patients with rheumatoid arthritis is feasible and safe: Placebo-controlled double blind tapering after the GLORIA trial. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023 (Aug 4). doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-223977

Key clinical point: The daily administration of prednisolone at a dose of 5 mg or higher increased the risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with doses below 5 mg not appearing to increase the cardiovascular risk.

Major finding: Compared with no use of glucocorticoids, the administration of ≥5 mg prednisolone daily led to a nearly twofold increase in the risk for incident MACE (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.02; P < .001), with the risk increasing by 7% per month (P < .001) over a long-term follow-up. No association was observed between daily use of prednisolone < 5 mg and the risk for MACE (aHR 0.83; 95% CI 0.60-1.14).

Study details: This population-based retrospective cohort study included 12,233 patients with RA and without MACE at baseline.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: So H et al. Time and dose-dependent effect of systemic glucocorticoids on major adverse cardiovascular event in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A population-based study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023 (Jul 24). doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-224185

Key clinical point: The daily administration of prednisolone at a dose of 5 mg or higher increased the risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with doses below 5 mg not appearing to increase the cardiovascular risk.

Major finding: Compared with no use of glucocorticoids, the administration of ≥5 mg prednisolone daily led to a nearly twofold increase in the risk for incident MACE (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.02; P < .001), with the risk increasing by 7% per month (P < .001) over a long-term follow-up. No association was observed between daily use of prednisolone < 5 mg and the risk for MACE (aHR 0.83; 95% CI 0.60-1.14).

Study details: This population-based retrospective cohort study included 12,233 patients with RA and without MACE at baseline.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: So H et al. Time and dose-dependent effect of systemic glucocorticoids on major adverse cardiovascular event in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A population-based study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023 (Jul 24). doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-224185

Key clinical point: The daily administration of prednisolone at a dose of 5 mg or higher increased the risk for major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with doses below 5 mg not appearing to increase the cardiovascular risk.

Major finding: Compared with no use of glucocorticoids, the administration of ≥5 mg prednisolone daily led to a nearly twofold increase in the risk for incident MACE (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 2.02; P < .001), with the risk increasing by 7% per month (P < .001) over a long-term follow-up. No association was observed between daily use of prednisolone < 5 mg and the risk for MACE (aHR 0.83; 95% CI 0.60-1.14).

Study details: This population-based retrospective cohort study included 12,233 patients with RA and without MACE at baseline.

Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: So H et al. Time and dose-dependent effect of systemic glucocorticoids on major adverse cardiovascular event in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A population-based study. Ann Rheum Dis. 2023 (Jul 24). doi: 10.1136/ard-2023-224185

Key clinical point: The presence of antidrug antibodies was associated with a diminished response to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), highlighting the importance of monitoring antidrug antibodies, particularly among nonresponders.

Major finding: At month 12, the prevalence of antidrug antibodies against rituximab (50.0%), anti-tumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibodies (38.2%), and tocilizumab (20.0%) was relatively high, and an inverse association was observed between antidrug antibody positivity for all bDMARD and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology response (odds ratio 0.19; P < .001).

Study details: This cohort study used data from the ABI-RA prospective study to evaluate 230 patients with RA who initiated bDMARD.

Disclosures: The ABI-RA study was a part of ABIRISK, which was funded by the European Union and included financial contribution from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme and others. Several authors declared receiving personal fees, grants, or non-financial support from various sources.

Source: Bitoun S et al for the ABIRISK Consortium. Response to biologic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and antidrug antibodies. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(7):e2323098 (Jul 12). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.23098

Key clinical point: The presence of antidrug antibodies was associated with a diminished response to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), highlighting the importance of monitoring antidrug antibodies, particularly among nonresponders.

Major finding: At month 12, the prevalence of antidrug antibodies against rituximab (50.0%), anti-tumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibodies (38.2%), and tocilizumab (20.0%) was relatively high, and an inverse association was observed between antidrug antibody positivity for all bDMARD and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology response (odds ratio 0.19; P < .001).

Study details: This cohort study used data from the ABI-RA prospective study to evaluate 230 patients with RA who initiated bDMARD.

Disclosures: The ABI-RA study was a part of ABIRISK, which was funded by the European Union and included financial contribution from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme and others. Several authors declared receiving personal fees, grants, or non-financial support from various sources.

Source: Bitoun S et al for the ABIRISK Consortium. Response to biologic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and antidrug antibodies. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(7):e2323098 (Jul 12). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.23098

Key clinical point: The presence of antidrug antibodies was associated with a diminished response to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARD) among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), highlighting the importance of monitoring antidrug antibodies, particularly among nonresponders.

Major finding: At month 12, the prevalence of antidrug antibodies against rituximab (50.0%), anti-tumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibodies (38.2%), and tocilizumab (20.0%) was relatively high, and an inverse association was observed between antidrug antibody positivity for all bDMARD and the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology response (odds ratio 0.19; P < .001).

Study details: This cohort study used data from the ABI-RA prospective study to evaluate 230 patients with RA who initiated bDMARD.

Disclosures: The ABI-RA study was a part of ABIRISK, which was funded by the European Union and included financial contribution from the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme and others. Several authors declared receiving personal fees, grants, or non-financial support from various sources.

Source: Bitoun S et al for the ABIRISK Consortium. Response to biologic drugs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and antidrug antibodies. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(7):e2323098 (Jul 12). doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.23098

Key clinical point: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at a significantly higher risk for aortic stenosis (AS) and subsequent aortic valve intervention and AS-related death than those without RA.

Major finding: Patients with vs without RA were at an increased risk for incident AS (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.48; 95% CI 1.41-1.55), AS-related death (aHR 1.26; 95% CI 1.04-1.54), and undergoing an AS-related aortic valvular intervention (aHR 1.34; 95% CI 1.22-1.48), including both surgical (aHR 1.30; 95% CI 1.16-1.45) and transcatheter (aHR 1.53; 95% CI 1.26-1.85) aortic valve replacements.

Study details: This retrospective cohort study included 73,070 patients with RA who were matched with 639,268 patients without RA.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention and other sources. TM Johnson declared receiving grants from the Rheumatology Research Foundation. Some authors declared receiving personal or consulting fees, grants, speaking honoraria, or royalties from various sources.

Source: Johnson TM et al. Aortic stenosis risk in rheumatoid arthritis. JAMA Intern Med. 2023 (Jul 31). doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.3087

Key clinical point: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at a significantly higher risk for aortic stenosis (AS) and subsequent aortic valve intervention and AS-related death than those without RA.

Major finding: Patients with vs without RA were at an increased risk for incident AS (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.48; 95% CI 1.41-1.55), AS-related death (aHR 1.26; 95% CI 1.04-1.54), and undergoing an AS-related aortic valvular intervention (aHR 1.34; 95% CI 1.22-1.48), including both surgical (aHR 1.30; 95% CI 1.16-1.45) and transcatheter (aHR 1.53; 95% CI 1.26-1.85) aortic valve replacements.

Study details: This retrospective cohort study included 73,070 patients with RA who were matched with 639,268 patients without RA.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention and other sources. TM Johnson declared receiving grants from the Rheumatology Research Foundation. Some authors declared receiving personal or consulting fees, grants, speaking honoraria, or royalties from various sources.

Source: Johnson TM et al. Aortic stenosis risk in rheumatoid arthritis. JAMA Intern Med. 2023 (Jul 31). doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.3087

Key clinical point: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at a significantly higher risk for aortic stenosis (AS) and subsequent aortic valve intervention and AS-related death than those without RA.

Major finding: Patients with vs without RA were at an increased risk for incident AS (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 1.48; 95% CI 1.41-1.55), AS-related death (aHR 1.26; 95% CI 1.04-1.54), and undergoing an AS-related aortic valvular intervention (aHR 1.34; 95% CI 1.22-1.48), including both surgical (aHR 1.30; 95% CI 1.16-1.45) and transcatheter (aHR 1.53; 95% CI 1.26-1.85) aortic valve replacements.

Study details: This retrospective cohort study included 73,070 patients with RA who were matched with 639,268 patients without RA.

Disclosures: This study was supported by the Center of Excellence for Suicide Prevention and other sources. TM Johnson declared receiving grants from the Rheumatology Research Foundation. Some authors declared receiving personal or consulting fees, grants, speaking honoraria, or royalties from various sources.

Source: Johnson TM et al. Aortic stenosis risk in rheumatoid arthritis. JAMA Intern Med. 2023 (Jul 31). doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2023.3087

Key clinical point: A low (below cutoff) geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) score is significantly associated with worse prognosis in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Major finding: A low GNRI score was significantly associated with worse overall survival (pooled hazard ratio [pHR] 1.78; P < .01) and progression-free survival (pHR 2.31; P < .01).

Study details: This meta-analysis included seven retrospective cohort studies that provided a cutoff value for GNRI (between 92 and 104.24) and involved 2448 patients with DLBCL for whom a calculated GNRI score was available.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Key R&D Projects, Jiangxi. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Yan C et al. Prognostic value of geriatric nutritional risk index in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A meta-analysis. Clin Transl Oncol. 2023 (Jul 12). doi: 10.1007/s12094-023-03271-w

Key clinical point: A low (below cutoff) geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) score is significantly associated with worse prognosis in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Major finding: A low GNRI score was significantly associated with worse overall survival (pooled hazard ratio [pHR] 1.78; P < .01) and progression-free survival (pHR 2.31; P < .01).

Study details: This meta-analysis included seven retrospective cohort studies that provided a cutoff value for GNRI (between 92 and 104.24) and involved 2448 patients with DLBCL for whom a calculated GNRI score was available.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Key R&D Projects, Jiangxi. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Yan C et al. Prognostic value of geriatric nutritional risk index in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A meta-analysis. Clin Transl Oncol. 2023 (Jul 12). doi: 10.1007/s12094-023-03271-w

Key clinical point: A low (below cutoff) geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) score is significantly associated with worse prognosis in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Major finding: A low GNRI score was significantly associated with worse overall survival (pooled hazard ratio [pHR] 1.78; P < .01) and progression-free survival (pHR 2.31; P < .01).

Study details: This meta-analysis included seven retrospective cohort studies that provided a cutoff value for GNRI (between 92 and 104.24) and involved 2448 patients with DLBCL for whom a calculated GNRI score was available.

Disclosures: This study was supported by Key R&D Projects, Jiangxi. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.

Source: Yan C et al. Prognostic value of geriatric nutritional risk index in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A meta-analysis. Clin Transl Oncol. 2023 (Jul 12). doi: 10.1007/s12094-023-03271-w