Within the third installment of our Yr in Overview collection, Rheumatology Community interviewed Ayman Askari, MD, to debate the current traits, research offered on the American Faculty of Rheumatology (ACR) Convergence 2022, and the urgent points that face rheumatologists treating rheumatoid arthritis transferring into 2023. He stresses the significance of vaccination, notably the COVID-19 vaccination, in sufferers with rheumatic ailments, like rheumatoid arthritis, and believes comparisons between Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors needs to be extra totally researched within the upcoming yr. Askari is a marketing consultant rheumatologist on the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopedic Hospital.
Rheumatology Community: To the touch on rheumatoid arthritis extra broadly in 2022, have there been any new research or information offered this yr that stands out to you?
Ayman Askari, MD: I attended just a few talks on the ACR concerning upadacitinib, which is a product by AbbVie. Within the SELECT and SELECT-COMPARE trials, in addition to different numerous research, it appears to be an efficient product.
There have been additionally seminars on psoriatic arthritis and talks on anti-interleukin 23, however so far as rheumatoid arthritis, I might deal with upadacitinib and JAK inhibitors. I believe sooner or later, rheumatologists are going to be utilizing extra JAK inhibitors as a result of it is an oral pill and it has a really brief half-life. So that may affect my future follow.
RN: Have you ever seen any overarching traits in rheumatoid arthritis administration and remedy over the previous yr?
AA: I would not say that there are main modifications. We simply got here out of COVID and COVID has affected our follow. So, we’re speaking so much about vaccination and COVID vaccination. Medicines that may suppress the immune system, like rituximab, for instance, could make sufferers extra vulnerable to COVID. However I might say there are not any basic points with rheumatoid, aside from the extra prevalent use of JAK inhibitors.
RN: What are a number of the most urgent points in rheumatoid arthritis that you’d hope to see be addressed or obtain a better focus in 2023?
AA: I believe vaccination for COVID and for herpes zoster goes to be targeted on in 2023. The usage of JAK inhibitors and the comparability between numerous JAKs is a matter for dialogue. We have now JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and there’s a Tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) additionally. These new modalities in addressing immune suppression are going to be researched extra or noticed extra. I imply, it is already been researched and printed, however negative effects such deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and herpes zoster, that are at all times on our minds, might be noticed extra within the upcoming yr.
RN: Is there anything that you prefer to our viewers to know earlier than we wrap up?
AA: Effectively, I noticed one thing within the exhibition concerning blood checks that a few of your labs are producing. Significantly, one in California was producing fast autoimmune checks which pursuits me if they’re doing it at a low price. That is perhaps a bonus for the general public sooner or later, not essentially only for rheumatoid arthritis however for all of the connective tissue issues. That’s undoubtedly one of many issues that caught my eye throughout the current convention.