Author: Jan Schirmer
Blockmans et al. (LBA0001) reported the results of the SELECT-GCA trial that compared Upadacitinib (either 15 or 7.5 mg daily combined with a 26 week prednisone taper) and Placebo (combined with a 52 week prednisone taper) in Giant Cell Arteritis. Sustained remission at week 52 was achieved by 46% of patients receiving Upadacitinib 15mg daily and 29% of patients receiving placebo. Sustained remission from week 12 to 52 was also higher in the 15mg Upadacitinib group (46% and 29).
Seitz et al. (OP0215) compared the diagnostic accuracy of temporal artery ultrasound and contrast-enhanced cranial T1 black blood MRI in Giant Cell Arteritis. MRI and the ultrasound evaluation by the examiner resulted in similar rates of correct diagnosis. If the diagnosis of ultrasound was based on intima media thickness alone or the ‘Halo’-sign alone (rather than final examiner evaluation), MRI outperformed ultrasound in patients with high cardiovascular risk due to a higher specificity.
Monti et al. (OP0309) studied the predictive value of the provisional OMERACT Giant Cell Arteritis ultrasound score (OGUS). OGUS at baseline was correlated with relapse risk during the first 12 months. OGUS normalization within 12 weeks was inversely correlated with the need for additional immunosuppressive treatment.
Saadoun et al. (OP0123) compared the efficacy of Infliximab and Cyclophosphamide (both combined with glucocorticoids) in a RCT of patients with Behçet’s syndrome and major vascular or central nervous system involvement. Complete response was achieved by 22 of 27 (81%) in the Infliximab group, but only by 14 of 25 (56%) in the Cyclophosphamide group.
Hellmich et al. (OP0188) reported a sub-analysis of the Phase 3 MANDARA trial that compared Benralizumab and Mepolizumab in EGPA. From week 48 to 52, a larger proportion of patients in the Benralizumab group (41.4%) achieved complete glucocorticoid withdrawal compared to those treated with Mepolizumab (25.8%).
Tang et al. (OP0083) analyzed the malignancy screening risk categories from the recently published IMACS guideline in a large cohort with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies. 19.7% in the high risk group, 6.8% in the intermediate-risk group and 0% in the low-risk group were diagnosed with cancer. In this cohort, anti-TIF1γ and anti-SAE1 were positively correlated with malignancies, whereas interstitial lung disease was negatively correlated.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jan Schirmer
Jan Schirmer is a specialist for rheumatology, working as a researcher at the Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge (United Kingdom). His research interests include large vessel vasculitis and ANCA-associated vasculitis.
Jan is a member of the Visibility and Global Affairs Sub-committee.