TNF Inhibitors Not Very Effective Against Axial Spondyloarthritis in Patients With IBD

Axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) is a common extraintestinal manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Anti-TNF agents are often used to treat concomitant axSpA and IBD. Brigham researchers have presented evidence that TNF inhibitors are less effective for axSpA than for IBD within one year.

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Brigham Researchers Map More Than 2,000 CD1-binding Lipids for T Cells

Brigham scientists developed a method to simultaneously detect more than 2,000 CD1 lipid molecules that are displayed to T cells in the human immune system. This resulted in the first integrated CD1 lipidomic map, guiding the investigation of lipid T cell antigens and cleft blockers in any cellular system or disease.

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Denosumab Use for Osteoporosis May Reduce Risk of Type 2 Diabetes

Close up of doctor holding syringe, denosumab medical injection concept

Clinical guidelines recommend denosumab for people with osteoporosis with a high fracture risk. Now, researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital have associated denosumab use with a 32% decreased risk of type 2 diabetes compared with the use of an oral bisphosphonate.

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What Is the Role of Inflammation in the Development of Osteoarthritis After an ACL Injury?

Brigham orthopedist Christian Lattermann, MD, was the principal investigator of a study examining a possible connection between dysregulated inflammatory response and effusion synovitis after an ACL injury. He says risk stratification may help clinicians determine the appropriate treatment approach for each patient.

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Antibody Response to COVID-19 Vaccination Not Affected by Whether RA Patients Interrupt DMARD Therapy

Doctor giving senior female patient the COVID-19 vaccine

In an observational study in “real-world” practice, Brigham and Women’s Hospital researchers did not identify significant differences in antibody response to COVID-19 vaccination among rheumatoid arthritis patients who held versus continued disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs for the last dose of the primary series.

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MIRROR Trial: Addition of Methotrexate to Pegloticase Is Efficacious, Safe

Doctor administers infusion therapy to patient sitting on chair, pegloticase infusion concept

Michael E. Weinblatt, MD, and colleagues are conducting the first randomized, placebo-controlled study using an immunomodulator with pegloticase to increase urate-lowering response durability. Initial findings confirm the superiority of pegloticase plus methotrexate co-therapy to pegloticase monotherapy.

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Developing the First SLE Risk Prediction Model Based on Known Factors

Woman sitting on couch touching left shoulder in discomfort, joint pain from lupus SLE concept

Brigham rheumatologist and Lupus Program director Karen Costenbader, MD, MPH, helped develop a risk prediction model for systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) incorporating genetic, environmental, and lifestyle risk factors, as well as family history. Clinicians one day may use the model to predict individuals’ SLE risks.

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ECG Testing Infrequent for Patients Receiving Hydroxychloroquine or Chloroquine

Woman holding glass of water and taking white pill, hydroxychloroquine medication concept

Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine (HCQ/CQ) have known cardiovascular adverse effects. However, Brigham and Women’s Hospital researchers found that before the COVID-19 pandemic, electrocardiograms were infrequently obtained prior to initiation of HCQ/CQ and even less often during follow-up.

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TNF Inhibitors Not Superior to Triple Therapy in Reducing Vascular Inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rendering of human heart anatomy on dark background

Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital conducted the first randomized, active comparator trial to explore the effect of disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs on vascular inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis.

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Polarization-Sensitive OCT Technically Feasible for Assessing Pre-Osteoarthritis

Female patient at ophthalmologist leaning toward machine for optical coherence tomography testing

Mass General Brigham clinicians and colleagues showed polarization-sensitive optical coherence tomography (PS-OCT) can be performed minimally invasively and report results from a pilot study that will inform a large clinical trial to determine whether PS-OCT can predict the development of osteoarthritis.

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