Hong Kong
Search
Sign In
Change Password
Points
Sign Out
Rheumatology
Top Medical News
For patients with gout and obesity, an intensive dietary intervention leads to reductions in body weight, but the weight loss does not necessarily translate to improvements in serum urate, fatigue, and pain, according to a study.
For people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and severe functional limitations, undergoing supervised exercise therapy for more than 52 weeks results in better outcomes compared with usual care, as reported in a study.
Having greater serum folic acid levels and taking folic acid supplements more than once a week during the second and third trimesters appear to lower the risk of Kawasaki disease among infants, according to a study.
Telitacicept, a novel fusion protein that neutralizes signals of B lymphocyte stimulator and a proliferation-inducing ligand, is safe and helps improve the symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus, as shown in a phase IIb study.
In the treatment of individuals with fibromyalgia, low-dose naltrexone does not appear to help reduce pain but might improve memory instead, as reported in a study.
Infants born to mothers with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) during pregnancy are at risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a study.
Auricular vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) does not appear to be efficacious at managing disease activity in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, as reported in a study.
Special Reports
Eosinophilic disorders, such as eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) and hypereosinophilic syndrome (HES), often necessitate the use of corticosteroids due to diverse signs and symptoms. However, long-term corticosteroid use is associated with various complications. Patients with poor response to corticosteroids may experience disease recurrence. At an industry-sponsored symposium jointly organized by the Hong Kong Society of Rheumatology and the Hong Kong Thoracic Society, experts shared insights on multidisciplinary team management of eosinophilic disorders and discussed clinical evidence supporting the use of add-on medications, such as mepolizumab, in EGPA and HES.
The new European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) recommendations for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis (LN) have adopted a more proactive treatment approach that focuses on early use of biologics to enable faster steroid tapering and preservation of renal function, as well as to minimize the risk of flares and organ damage progression. At European Congress of Rheumatology 2023 (EULAR 2023), Dr Dimitrios Boumpas, Chair of the EULAR Task Force on SLE, presented key changes in the new guidelines and discussed the established efficacy and safety of belimumab, a biologic indicated for SLE and LN.
The patient is a 39-year-old female who was diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in 2015 and initially presented with significant proteinuria (24-hour urine total protein, 6.6 g). Renal biopsy confirmed class II and V lupus nephritis (LN). Further laboratory investigations were consistent with SLE, including positive antinuclear antibodies (ANA), high anti-double stranded DNA (anti-dsDNA) level (>1000 IU/L), and positive lupus anticoagulant. Complement testing showed low levels of C3 and C4, suggestive of active disease.1
Ustekinumab solution for injection (pre-filled syringe) 45 mg/0.5 mL and 90 mg/mL, and concentrate for solution for infusion (vial) 130 mg
A man in his early 60s with >1 year’s history of adult-onset asthma was referred to our rheumatology clinic in 2022. At presentation, he had recurrent asthma exacerbations (two major episodes in 2021 and 2022, one of which required hospitalization) and shortness of breath. However, his asthma responded poorly to steroids, including inhaled corticosteroids. Medium-dose oral prednisolone (15 mg/day) was given during asthma attacks. He had sinusitis for >10 years, while his family history was unremarkable. His body weight was about 70 kg.
Herpes zoster occurs
when the varicella zoster virus that lay dormant in the body after recovering
from chickenpox reactivate later in life. Complications from herpes zoster can
cause chronic, debilitating pain and disability. Three clinicians share why
preventing herpes zoster matters for everyone.
Romosozumab solution for injection (pre-filled syringe) 105 mg/1.17 mL
Conference Reports
Two real-world studies presented at EULAR 2023 reflected the cardiovascular (CV) safety of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi*) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Half of gout patients receiving novel uricase analogue infusions, along with a proprietary rapamycin formulation, got their serum urate controlled in two phase III studies presented at EULAR 2023.
Patients initiated on gliflozins or flozins – also called sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors – for type 2 diabetes (T2D) who were previously on metformin had reductions in the incidents of gout of up to 60 percent compared with other second-line agents in a recent study.
In the phase III STRIDES X-Ray Extension study, additional doses of the investigational CLK/DYRK inhibitor lorecivivint delivered favourable outcomes for individuals with advanced knee osteoarthritis (OA).
Treatment with dazodalibep, a novel nonantibody fusion protein that acts as an antagonist of CD40 ligand, significantly reduced symptom burden in adults with Sjögren’s syndrome, according to the ALISS trial presented at EULAR 2023.
In the treatment of chronic glucocorticoid users with high fracture risk, romosozumab yields higher gains in spine bone mineral density (BMD) compared with denosumab, as shown in a pilot trial presented at EULAR 2023.
It is now possible to predict rheumatoid arthritis (RA), thanks to interpretations of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans made by an artificial intelligence (AI) model.
