Rheumatology
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Observational Study
Baricitinib improves respiratory function in patients treated with corticosteroids for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: an observational cohort study.
The Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor baricitinib may block viral entry into pneumocytes and prevent cytokine storm in patients with SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. We aimed to assess whether baricitinib improved pulmonary function in patients treated with high-dose corticosteroids for moderate to severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia. ⋯ . In patients with moderate to severe SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia a combination of baricitinib with corticosteroids was associated with greater improvement in pulmonary function when compared with corticosteroids alone.
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Multicenter Study Observational Study
Effectiveness and safety of 12-month certolizumab pegol treatment for axial spondyloarthritis in real-world clinical practice in Europe.
The efficacy and safety of certolizumab pegol (CZP), an Fc-free, PEGylated anti-TNF, in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) has been established in clinical trial settings. We report CZP effectiveness and safety in European clinical practice in patients with axSpA, including radiographic (r-) and non-radiographic (nr-) axSpA. ⋯ Improvements observed in signs and symptoms of axSpA following one year of CZP treatment in real-world clinical practice were similar to those from previous randomized clinical trials, with no new safety concerns.
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Patients with RA are frequently treated with glucocorticoids (GCs), but evidence is conflicting about whether GCs are associated with hypertension. The aim of this study was to determine whether GCs are associated with incident hypertension in patients with RA. ⋯ Recent GC use was associated with incident hypertension in patients with RA, in particular doses ≥7.5 mg were associated with hypertension. Clinicians need to consider cardiovascular risk when prescribing GCs, and ensure blood pressure is regularly monitored and treated where necessary.
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To estimate the overall risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT) among patients newly diagnosed with RA compared with the general population without RA; and to estimate the risk trends of VTE, PE and DVT after RA diagnosis up to 5 years compared with the general population. ⋯ This population-based study demonstrates that RA patients have an increased risk of VTE, PE and DVT after diagnosis compared with the general population. This risk is independent of traditional VTE risk factors and is highest during the first year after RA diagnosis, then progressively declined.
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To identify the changes in rheumatology service delivery across the five regions of Africa from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. ⋯ COVID-19 has shifted daily rheumatology practices across Africa to more virtual consultations and regional disparities are more apparent in the availability of local protocols and registries.