Systematic literature review and meta-analysis informing the EULAR points to consider on the initiation of targeted therapies in patients with inflammatory arthritis and a history of cancer.

Background: Targeted therapies have been associated with potential risk of malignancy, which is a common concern in daily rheumatology practice in patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and a history of cancer.

Objectives: To perform a systematic literature review to inform a Task Force formulating EULAR points to consider on the initiation of targeted therapies in patients with IA and a history of cancer.

Methods: Specific research questions were defined within the Task Force before formulating the exact research queries with a librarian.

2024 EULAR points to consider on the initiation of targeted therapies in patients with inflammatory arthritis and a history of cancer.

Background: Potential associations between targeted therapies and a new cancer in patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and a previous malignancy are a frequent concern in daily rheumatology practice.

Objectives: To develop points to consider (PTC) to assist rheumatologists when initiating a targeted therapy in the context of a previous malignancy.

Methods: Following EULAR standardised operating procedures, a task force met to define the research questions for a systematic literature review and to formulate the overarching principles (OPs) and the PTC.

Effectiveness of JAK Inhibitors Compared With Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs on Pain Reduction in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Results From a Nationwide Swedish Cohort Study.

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of JAK inhibitors (JAKis) and biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) on pain in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Methods: In this retrospective study, we investigated patients with a diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, starting treatment with a JAKi (n = 1,827), a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi; n = 6,422), an interleukin-6 inhibitor (n = 887), abatacept (n = 1,102), or rituximab (n = 1,149) in 2017 to 2019, using data from several linked Swedish national registers. Differences in change in pain, assessed with a visual analogue scale (0-100 mm), from baseline to 3 months, as well as proportions of patients remaining on initial treatment with low pain (visual analogue scale pain <20) at 12 months, were compared between treatments.

Effect of glucocorticoids for the management of immune-related adverse events on outcome in melanoma patients treated with immunotherapy-a retrospective and biomarker study.

Background: Immune-related adverse events (IRAEs) during therapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are common, and their management sometimes requires glucocorticoids (GCs). Predictors for development of IRAEs and data about the impact of GCs on clinical outcome are missing. We evaluated the impact of GCs to treat IRAEs on clinical outcome, and plasmatic inflammatory proteins as predictors for IRAEs.

Corticosteroids and other immunosuppressants for immune-related adverse events and checkpoint inhibitor effectiveness in melanoma.

Background: Recent studies indicate an association between immunosuppression for immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and impaired survival in patients who received immune checkpoint inhibitors. Whether this is related to corticosteroids or second-line immunosuppressants is unknown. In the largest cohort thus far, we assessed the association of immunosuppressant type and dose with survival in melanoma patients with irAEs.

Determinants of tofacitinib discontinuation in adult patients with rheumatoid arthritis during long-term extension studies up to 9.5 years.

Objectives: To examine determinants of tofacitinib discontinuation due to voluntary (i.e. patient-driven) or involuntary reasons (i.

Factors associated with non-adherence to medications in systemic lupus erythematosus: Results from a Swedish survey.

Objective: To identify determinants of medication non-adherence in a Swedish population of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Patients with SLE from Karolinska and Örebro University Hospitals participated in a survey-based cross-sectional study. Demographics, disease activity, organ damage, HRQoL (LupusQol, EQ-5D-5 L), medication non-adherence (<80% on CQR-19 or MASRI) and beliefs about medicines (BMQ) were registered.

The serological immunogenicity of the third and fourth doses of COVID-19 vaccine in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases on different biologic or targeted DMARDs: a Swedish nationwide study (COVID-19-REUMA).

Unlabelled: Studies investigating the immunogenicity of additional COVID-19 vaccine doses in immunosuppressed patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases (IRD) are still limited. The objective was to explore the antibody response including response to omicron virus subvariants (sBA.1 and sBS.

Anakinra or tocilizumab in patients admitted to hospital with severe covid-19 at high risk of deterioration (IMMCoVA): A randomized, controlled, open-label trial.

Background: Anakinra and tocilizumab are used for severe Covid-19, but only one previous randomized controlled trial (RCT) has studied both. We performed a multi-center RCT comparing anakinra or tocilizumab versus usual care (UC) for adults at high risk of deterioration.

Methods: The study was conducted June 2020 to March 2021.

Intracardiac Thrombi in Morbus Adamantiades-Behçet in Two Swedish Patients.

Morbus Adamantiades-Behçet (MAB) is an inflammatory disease typically manifesting with oral and genital aphthosis, erythema nodosum, and vasculopathy, and in only around 2%, cardiac involvement. Its prevalence is usually higher along the historic Silk Road, but rarer in Scandinavia where 0.64-4.

Points to consider for cost-effective use of biological and targeted synthetic DMARDs in inflammatory rheumatic diseases: results from an umbrella review and international Delphi study.

Objectives: To develop evidence-based points to consider for cost-effective use of biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) in the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic diseases, specifically rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis.

Methods: Following EULAR procedures, an international task force was formed, consisting of 13 experts in rheumatology, epidemiology and pharmacology from seven European countries. Twelve strategies for cost-effective use of b/tsDMARDs were identified through individual and group discussion.

Original research on Behçet's syndrome: a bibliometric analysis over 20 years (2000-2019).

Objectives: We aimed to perform a bibliometric analysis of original research articles on Behçet's syndrome (BS) published over the last 20 years prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and to systematically describe their characteristics and citation records.

Methods: The PubMed database was searched for any article published on BS between 2000 and 2019. We identified all original research articles and categorised them by country of origin and type of research, i.

Evaluation of an individually tailored smoking-cessation intervention for patients with rheumatoid arthritis in an outpatient clinic.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate an individually tailored smoking-cessation intervention delivered in rheumatology care and compare the characteristics of patients who quit smoking with those who did not.

Method: This was an open single-group prospective intervention study over 24 months, with assessments at baseline and at 6, 12, 18, and 24 months. Current smokers with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were invited to a smoking-cessation programme including behavioural change support, with or without pharmacotherapy.

Comparison of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced arthritis and reactive arthritis to inform therapeutic strategy.

Introduction: Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced inflammatory arthritis (ICI-IA) is a relatively new disease entity caused by ICI agents during cancer therapy. Reactive arthritis (ReA) is a well-known disease entity caused by urogenital or gastrointestinal bacterial infection or pneumonia. In this sense, ICI-IA and ReA are both defined by a reaction to a well-specified causal event.

Effectiveness of baricitinib and tofacitinib compared with bDMARDs in RA: results from a cohort study using nationwide Swedish register data.

Objectives: To describe the use of baricitinib and tofacitinib by Swedish RA patients and to compare their effectiveness with that of biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs).

Methods: RA patients who initiated baricitinib (n = 1420), tofacitinib (n = 316), abatacept (n = 1050), IL-6 inhibitors (IL-6is; n = 849), rituximab (n = 1101) or TNF inhibitors (TNFis; n = 6036) between January 2017 and November 2019 were followed for a minimum of 1 year using data from several linked Swedish national registers. Proportions reaching a good EULAR 28-joint DAS (DAS28) response, HAQ Disability Index (HAQ-DI) improvement >0.

[Overview of immune-related side effects from immune checkpoint inhibitors. Part 2: Endocrine, rheumatologic and skin toxicity].

In the past decade, immunotherapy with checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionized the field of oncology. Checkpoint inhibitors have been approved for several types of cancer and thousands of patients in Sweden now receive oncological immunotherapy annually. Immune-related side effects are common and can occur in almost any organ.

Using Autoantibodies to Diagnose Systemic Autoimmune Diseases Triggered by Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: A Clinical Perspective.

Immunotherapies, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), have significantly advanced the treatment of cancer and other conditions. However, these therapies can also cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs), which are unintended side effects due to their effects on the immune system of the treated patient. These effects can be classified as organ-specific or systemic, with the latter being of particular interest due to their potential overlap with systemic autoimmune diseases (SADs).

The occurrence of multiple treatment switches in axial spondyloarthritis. Results from five Nordic rheumatology registries.

Objectives: In axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), switching between multiple biologic or targeted synthetic (b/ts-) DMARDs might indicate difficult-to-treat disease. We aimed to explore the occurrence of multiple switching in routine care axSpA patients using various definitions, and to identify associated clinical characteristics upon start of first b/tsDMARD (baseline).

Methods: Observational cohort study including patients with axSpA starting a first-ever b/tsDMARD 2009-2018 based on data from five biologic registries (Denmark/Sweden/Finland/Norway/Iceland).

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients with inflammatory joint diseases in Sweden: from infection severity to impact on care provision.

Objectives: To compare risks for COVID-19-related outcomes in inflammatory joint diseases (IJDs) and across disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) during the first two waves of the pandemic and to assess effects of the pandemic on rheumatology care provision.

Methods: Through nationwide multiregister linkages and cohort study design, we defined IJD and DMARD use annually in 2015-2020. We assessed absolute and relative risks of hospitalisation or death listing COVID-19.