ACR 2008 News

Who Stays in RA Remission After TNF Blockade Stops?
November 25, 2008
Patients who start treatment soon after RA symptoms appear, and who have increased functional T-cells, higher levels of interleukin-10, and lower levels of interleukin-12 maintain sustained remission even after stopping TNF-blockers...

Scleroderma Stem Cell Transplants Advance, Phase III Studies Recruiting Patients
November 24, 2008
Pilot data on systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients treated with autologous stem cell transplants suggest durable improvements in skin thickening and lung function. Phase III randomized trials are still open to enrollment...

New OA Topicals Ease Pain, Protect Stomach
November 24, 2008
New topical NSAID formulations relieve OA pain without the GI problems associated with oral NSAIDs...

Centocor's Golimumab Gives Durable Skin, Joint Relief in Psoriatic Arthritis, ACR Studies Say
November 18, 2008
More than half of active psoriatic arthritis patients receiving subcutaneous injections of 50 mg or 100 mg of golimumab (CNTO 148) every 4 weeks showed improvements that lasted through 1 year in the joint and skin symptoms...

Vitamin D Levels Linked to OA Cartilage Loss, OA Pain, and SSc Disease Activity by ACR Researchers
November 17, 2008
Low vitamin D levels are associated with faster progression of joint damage, bone loss, and pain in OA and with higher levels of inflammatory markers and vascular complications in systemic sclerosis, suggesting that more attention to vitamin D supplements might be in order...

H. pylori Suspected in Oral Bisphosphonate Intolerance, SSc Stomach Problems
November 13, 2008
Helicobacter pylori infects nearly half of patients who cannot tolerate oral bisphosphonates and over 80% of systemic sclerosis patients. Treating H. pylori might reduce GI problems and increase treatment options in these and other rheumatoid conditions...

Parathyroid Hormone Patch May Increase BMD and Adherence
November 13, 2008
A new patch that delivers parathyroid hormone (PTH) may increase spine and hip BMD and avoid some of the compliance issues seen with subcutaneous daily injections of PTH…

• ACR 2008 Video: Interviews
• ACR 2008 Video: Press Conferences