Arthritis & Rheumatology News and Research

Latest Arthritis & Rheumatology News and Research

Rheumatoid arthritis infection risk predicted by RABBIT

The RABBIT risk score can predict the likelihood of serious infection in rheumatoid arthritis patients using tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibitors and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, research confirms.

11 Jun 2012

Incyte, Lilly announce 12-week results from baricitinib Phase IIb study on RA

Eli Lilly and Company and Incyte Corporation announced the presentation of 12-week results from a Phase IIb study of baricitinib, formerly LY3009104 (INCB28050), an orally available janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor, in patients with active rheumatoid arthritis.

11 Jun 2012

Lexicon presents six posters on LX4211 at ADA meeting

Lexicon Pharmaceuticals, Inc. will present six posters summarizing the mechanism of action and safety of LX4211, a dual inhibitor of sodium glucose transporters 1 and 2 (SGLT1 and SGLT2) currently in mid-stage development for type 2 diabetes, at the 72nd Scientific Sessions of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania during the Saturday morning poster session on June 9, 2012.

10 Jun 2012

Psoriasis link with autoimmune diseases underscored

Patients with psoriasis are nearly twice as likely to have an autoimmune disease as individuals without the condition, suggest study findings.

8 Jun 2012

Biomarkers predict progressive spinal damage in ankylosing spondylitis

German researchers have discovered five biomarkers that may predict the progression of structural damage in the spine of patients with ankylosing spondylitis who are already at high risk for disease progression.

8 Jun 2012

Adolescent mental disorders have repercussions for addiction

Adolescents with mental health disorders are significantly more likely to become addicted to prescription opioid pain relievers than those without mental disorders, experts say.

8 Jun 2012

Rheumatoid arthritis drug has added benefits

Treatment with anti-tumor necrosis factor drugs reduces the risk for cardiovascular events in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, researchers report.

8 Jun 2012

Positive results from Amgen Sensipar/Mimpara Phase 3 trial for HPT, CKD

Amgen today announced top-line results of the Phase 3 EVOLVE (EValuation Of Cinacalcet HCl Therapy to Lower CardioVascular Events) trial, which evaluated Sensipar/Mimpara (cinacalcet) for the reduction of the risk of mortality and cardiovascular (CV) events among 3,883 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (HPT) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving dialysis.

8 Jun 2012

Smoking RA patients don't respond to anti-TNF drugs

A new study presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, reinforces current thinking that smoking negatively affects treatment response in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) drugs.

8 Jun 2012

Hypocaloric diet may help achieve minimal disease activity in psoriatic arthritis patients

According to a study presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who are starting anti-tumour necrosis factor (anti-TNF) treatment and adhere to a hypocaloric diet have a significantly greater chance of achieving minimal disease activity (MDA, an important measure of disease activity) at six months compared to those on a standard diet.

8 Jun 2012

What are vitamins?

Most people have heard of vitamin C and its effects upon the body; but how much do you know about other vitamins? How many even are there? And what do they all do?

8 Jun 2012

Lung changes in association with ACPA status are a primary manifestation of RA

A new study presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, shows that lung changes in association with anti-citrullinated protein autoantibody (ACPA) status are a primary manifestation of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

8 Jun 2012

Data from abatacept versus adalimumab Phase IIIb comparison study on RA

Data from one of the few head-to-head trials in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, demonstrates that at one year, 64.8% of patients receiving abatacept (Orencia) and 63.4% of patients receiving adalimumab (Humira) achieved ACR20.

8 Jun 2012

Study packs powerful one-two punch in the fight against heart failure

A new study in the journal Circulation packs a powerful one-two punch in the fight against heart failure. The leading blow: Identification of a unique alliance of proteins that plays a major role in the development of the disease. The second but equally powerful hit: Drugs that interfere with this axis already exist.

8 Jun 2012

Patients over 45 years with history of early menopause 50% less likely to develop severe RA

A new study presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, shows that early menopause predicts a milder form of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

8 Jun 2012

Study calls for more aggressive management of osteoporosis in the extreme elderly

A new American study presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, calls for more aggressive management of osteoporosis in the extreme elderly as the true impact of osteoporotic hip fractures in those aged 80 years or older is unveiled.

8 Jun 2012

IRCM researchers make important breakthrough in the field of immunology

A team of researchers at the IRCM led by Dr. Andr- Veillette made an important breakthrough in the field of immunology, which will be published online today by the scientific journal Immunity. The scientists explained a poorly understood molecular mechanism associated with a human immune disorder known as XLP disease or Duncan's syndrome.

8 Jun 2012

Anti-TNFs increase risk of shingles in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases

Patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) treated with anti-tumour necrosis factor medications (anti-TNFs) have a 75% greater risk of developing herpes zoster, or shingles, than patients treated with traditional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs), according to a meta-analysis presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism.

8 Jun 2012

Initial HSCT results from phase III trial on systemic sclerosis

Initial results from an international, investigator-initiated, open label phase III trial were presented at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism. Data indicate that haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) results in better long term survival than conventional treatment for patients with poor prognosis early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis.

7 Jun 2012

Biologic treatments reduce mortality risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

According to a study presented today at EULAR 2012, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism, patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who are prescribed biologic treatments have a significantly lower mortality risk (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 0.61) than those just treated with traditional disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).The study also found the mortality was similar irrespective of the method of action of biologics (anti-tumour necrosis factor drugs [anti-TNFs] or rituximab).

7 Jun 2012