Safety of the JAK and TNF inhibitors in rheumatoid arthritis: real world data from the Hong Kong Biologics Registry.

Objectives: To compare the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), cancer and infective complications in RA patients using Janus kinase (JAKis) and TNF (TNFis) inhibitors.

Method: A retrospective analysis of data from the Hong Kong Biologics Registry 2008-2021 was performed. RA patients who had ever used JAKis or TNFis were included.

Five-year cardiovascular event risk in early rheumatoid arthritis patients who received treat-to-target management: a case-control study.

Objectives: This study explored whether the excess cardiovascular (CV) disease (CVD) risk in RA could be ameliorated by suppression of inflammation using a treat-to-target (T2T) approach. We compared the CV event (CVE) incidence among ERA patients managed by a T2T strategy with a CV risk factor-matched non-RA population and a historical RA cohort (HRA).

Methods: This was an observational study using the city-wide hospital data and the ERA registry.

Effects of RANKL inhibition on promoting healing of bone erosion in rheumatoid arthritis using HR-pQCT: a 2-year, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Objective: To evaluate the effects of denosumab on erosion healing at 2-4 metacarpophalangeal (MCP) head as determined by high-resolution peripheral quantitative CT (HR-pQCT) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with stable disease.

Methods: This was a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind study. Patients with RA with disease activity score 28 joints (DAS28) ≤5.

DAPSA, carotid plaque and cardiovascular events in psoriatic arthritis: a longitudinal study.

Objective: To examine whether Disease Activity in Psoriatic Arthritis (DAPSA) reflecting the inflammatory component of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can predict cardiovascular (CV) events independent of traditional CV risk factors and subclinical carotid atherosclerosis.

Methods: A cohort analysis was performed in patients with PsA who had been followed since 2006. The outcome of interest was first CV event.

Role of Interleukin 6 Inhibitors in the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a multisystem disease that affects the joints and various organs, resulting in compromised quality of life and increased mortality. A wide spectrum of treatment options is available for RA. Conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (csDMARDs) are the first-line of treatment for RA, whereas tumor necrosis factor α inhibitors are commonly used as a second-line biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drug following inadequate response to csDMARDs.

Rationale and design of the screening of pulmonary hypertension in systemic lupus erythematosus (SOPHIE) study.

Current guideline-recommended screening for pulmonary hypertension in patients with systemic sclerosis has not been evaluated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which is disproportionately prevalent in Asians. This multicentre, cross-sectional screening study aims to study the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension among SLE patients using these guidelines, and identify independent predictors and develop a prediction model for pulmonary hypertension in SLE patients. SLE patients from participating centres will undergo an echocardiography- and biomarker-based pulmonary hypertension screening procedure as in the DETECT study.

Hyperuricemia in Asian psoriatic arthritis patients.

Aim: It is generally accepted that hyperuricemia is commonly associated with psoriatic arthritis (PsA). However, variations in ethnicity, diet and habitat may contribute to differences in prevalence and risk factors for hyperuricemia in PsA patients. Moreover, Asian specific data is deficient.

IL-33 and soluble ST2 levels as novel predictors for remission and progression of carotid plaque in early rheumatoid arthritis: A prospective study.

Objectives: To study the association between the baseline IL-33 and soluble ST2 (sST2) levels with disease remission and progression of carotid atherosclerosis in early rheumatoid arthritis (ERA) patients.

Methods: A total of 98 ERA patients were enrolled. Disease activity and the presence of carotid plaque were evaluated at baseline and 12 months later.

Tacrolimus versus mycophenolate mofetil for induction therapy of lupus nephritis: a randomised controlled trial and long-term follow-up.

Objective: To compare the efficacy of tacrolimus (TAC) and mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) for the initial therapy of lupus nephritis (LN).

Study Design: This is an open randomised controlled parallel group study.

Methods: Adult patients with biopsy-confirmed active LN (class III/IV/V) were randomised to receive prednisolone (0.

Infliximab is associated with improvement in arterial stiffness in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis -- a randomized trial.

Objective: To determine the efficacy of methotrexate (MTX) with infliximab (IFX) compared with MTX alone in the prevention of atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: A randomized, open-label study in which early RA patients with active disease were treated with MTX alone (n = 20) and MTX plus IFX (n = 20) for 6 months. Patients were assessed every 3 months.

Serum soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products levels and aortic augmentation index in early rheumatoid arthritis--a prospective study.

Objective: We assessed whether a serum soluble receptor for advanced glycation end product (sRAGE) levels were associated with a progression of carotid atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness indexes in a cohort of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.

Methods: RA patients with symptoms onset <2 years were recruited. Vascular assessments and serum sRAGE levels were measured at baseline and 1 year later.

Treatment of pure membranous lupus nephropathy with prednisone and azathioprine: an open-label trial.

Background: The aim of this study was to report the outcome of pure membranous lupus nephropathy treated with prednisone and azathioprine (AZA).

Methods: Consecutive patients with pure membranous lupus glomerulonephritis (World Health Organization [WHO] Va and Vb) from 4 regional hospitals were recruited for an open-label treatment trial consisting of prednisone and AZA. Remission status was evaluated at 12 months.