Treat-to-target continuation of urate-lowering therapy versus a urate-lowering therapy discontinuation attempt strategy in gout patients in remission (go test finale): a pragmatic open label randomised superiority trial
Abstract format and assignment number: Oral presentation, OP001
Date: Wednesday 3rd June 2026, 16:30
Presenting author: I. R. Peeters (Netherlands)
A continued treat-to-target urate-lowering therapy (ULT) strategy was compared with a ULT discontinuation attempt in gout patients in remission. In this open-label, pragmatic, randomised superiority trial across nine Dutch centres, 309 patients in remission for at least 12 months were allocated to continued ULT or a discontinuation attempt over 24 months. Remission during the final six months was met in 79.2% of the continuation group versus 62.9% of the discontinuation group (risk difference 16.3%, p = 0.002). Continuation also resulted in fewer flares and less anti-inflammatory medication use, supporting guideline recommendations to continue ULT during remission.
Characterization of giant multinucleated cells phenotype and formation in gouty tophus
Abstract format and assignment number: Oral presentation, OP015
Presenting author: C. Leroy (France)
Date: Thursday, 4th June 2026, 11:30
The formation and phenotype of multinucleated giant cells (GMCs) in gouty tophus were characterised. In vitro, monosodium urate (MSU) and calcium pyrophosphate (CPP) crystals induced fusion of macrophages into GMCs from day 4, with kinetics similar to RANKL. These GMCs expressed TRAP and formed an actin ring, resembling osteoclasts. In tophi, GMCs showed high tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), cathepsin K and ring-organised integrin-β3 expression, and spatial transcriptomics confirmed strong expression of osteoclastic markers. GMCs surrounding tophi may contribute to the bone destruction associated with tophaceous deposits.
Efficacy and safety of hr091506 extended-release tablets in patients with gout, hyperuricemia, and recurrent flares, tophi, or chronic gouty arthropathy: a multicenter, randomized, double-blind phase 3 trial
Abstract format and assignment number: Late-breaking oral presentation, LB0008
Presenting author: Y. Xue (China)
Date: Saturday 6th June 2026, 13:10
The efficacy and safety of HR091506, an extended-release xanthine oxidase inhibitor, were evaluated against febuxostat in patients with gout and hyperuricaemia. In this phase 3 trial, 442 patients were randomised 1:1 and titrated up to 80 mg once daily over 36 weeks. At week 36, more patients achieved serum uric acid below 300 µmol/L with HR091506 than with febuxostat (63.8% vs 40.7%, p<0.0001). HR091506 also produced greater reductions in serum urate, while the overall incidence of adverse events was similar between groups. HR091506 demonstrated superior urate-lowering efficacy with an acceptable safety profile.
Describing CPPD synovium: histological analysis of synovial samples from the Baricitinib in Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease (BAPTIST) Phase II trial
Abstract format and assignment number: Poster, POS0419
Presenting author: L. Pezzoni (Italy)
Date: Wednesday, 3rd June 2026, 15:30
Synovial histology in calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease was described in a pilot analysis within the BAPTIST phase II trial of baricitinib. Ultrasound-guided synovial biopsies from 8 treatment-naïve CPPD patients were compared with osteoarthritis samples and stained for synovitis (Krenn score) and immune infiltrate (CD68, CD3, CD8, CD20). Three distinct synovial patterns emerged: a highly inflammatory pattern resembling inflammatory arthritis, an intermediate pattern with attenuated inflammatory features, and a predominantly fibrotic pattern. Histological characterisation may offer new insight into CPPD pathogenesis, clinical phenotypes and potential therapeutic targets.
Prevalence, risk factors and structural joint damage in HFE-related hemochromatosis arthropathy: the IRON FIST study
Abstract format and assignment number: Oral presentation, OP030
Presenting author: D. Haschka (Austria)
Date: Saturday, 6th June 2026, 10:05
The prevalence and risk factors of HFE-related hemochromatosis arthropathy (HA) were assessed in individuals homozygous for the p.Cys282Tyr variant. Among 105 participants, 25% met the EULAR classification criteria for HA. Patients with HA were more often male and older, and had significantly higher transferrin saturation. Age, sex, serum iron and transferrin saturation, but not ferritin, were independently associated with HA. High-resolution peripheral quantitative CT showed reduced joint space volume, confirming cartilage loss as a structural correlate of disease.
Presence of crystal depositions in the first metatarsophalangeal joint is closely related to local erosions; results from the 5-year NOR-GOUT study
Abstract format and assignment number: Oral presentation, OP0292
Presenting author: H. B. Hammer (Norway)
Date: Friday, 5th June 2026, 08:45
The association between ultrasound-detected crystal depositions and erosions in the first metatarsophalangeal (MTP1) joint was explored in the 5-year NOR-Gout study. Among 201 gout patients on treat-to-target urate-lowering therapy, higher crystal deposition scores, older age and longer disease duration were all associated with the presence of MTP1 erosions. Over five years, crystal depositions (tophi, double contour, aggregates) decreased markedly, while erosion scores did not change significantly and showed no further deterioration. Urate-lowering therapy is important both for eliminating crystal depositions and inhibiting erosive progression.
Musculoskeletal ultrasound findings in asymptomatic hyperuricemia: baseline analysis from the transitions in gout research (TIGER) study using the OMERACT gout ultrasound semi-quantitative scoring system
Abstract format and assignment number: Oral presentation, OP0289
Presenting author: N. Dalbeth (New Zealand)
Date: Friday, 5th June 2026, 08:15
Musculoskeletal ultrasound features of asymptomatic hyperuricaemia were described using the OMERACT gout semi-quantitative scoring system in the baseline analysis of the TIGER study. Among 269 participants with serum urate at least 0.48 mmol/L and no prior flares, definite ultrasound features of gout were found in more than one third, most commonly double contour. The overall amount of crystal deposition was low, and no correlation was seen with screening serum urate. Ultrasound features were associated with subclinical joint damage and inflammation, particularly at the first metatarsophalangeal joint.
Elvis Hysa
Country: Italy/Albania
Elvis is a rheumatologist and PhD Candidate at the Laboratory of Experimental Rheumatology and Academic Division of Clinical Rheumatology, University of Genova, Italy. His research focuses primarily on clinical and translational studies in polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis, imaging aspects of systemic sclerosis and other autoimmune connective tissue diseases (particularly capillaroscopy and skin ultrasound), and rheumatic-immune-related adverse events in oncology patients following immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. His PhD research centres on characterising cultured macrophages derived from peripheral circulating monocytes in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis, both before and after treatment. Elvis is a member of the EMEUNET Newsletter Sub-Committee.