Publications by authors named "Iku Shirasugi"
Aim: This multicenter retrospective study evaluated the differential impact of concomitant methotrexate (MTX) and glucocorticoids (GCs) administration by dosage on the effectiveness and safety of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) in a real-world cohort of patients with rheumatoid arthritis, adjusting for clinical backgrounds variables.
Methods: The study included 3751 treatment courses (bDMARD- or JAKi-naïve cases, 48.9%; tumor necrosis factor inhibitors: 1668; tocilizumab [TCZ]: 865; abatacept [ABT]: 825; JAKi: 393).
Objectives: This multicentre, retrospective study aimed to evaluate differences in drug continuation rates and efficacy between first- and second-line use of biological DMARDs (bDMARDs) and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi) after failure of the initial therapy in real-world RA settings.
Methods: Data from an observational multicentre registry of patients with RA in Japan were analysed, encompassing 5900 treatment courses (4046 bDMARD/JAKi-naïve cases and 1854 second-line cases). Gray's tests were used to compare the cumulative incidence function (CIF) for drug discontinuation, considering discontinuation due to remission as a competing risk.
Data on the safety of Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKis) in patients with renal impairment are lacking. This study aimed to investigate the safety of JAKis compared to biological (b) DMARDs in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and renal impairment. We used a multi-centre observational registry of patients with RA in Japan (the ANSWER cohort).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPredictive factors and treatment outcomes associated with difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis conditions: the ANSWER cohort study.
Rheumatology (Oxford)
September 2024
Objectives: To investigate the predictive factors for difficult-to-treat rheumatoid arthritis (D2T RA) and assess the efficacy of biologic DMARDs (bDMARDs) and Janus kinase inhibitors (JAKi).
Methods: Retrospective analysis was conducted on data from the ANSWER cohort comprising 3623 RA patients treated with bDMARDs or JAKi in Japan. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards modelling was used to analyse the hazard ratios (HRs) for treatment retention.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to explore how large joint involvement (LJI) impacts disease activity and medication retention in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients starting biological therapies or Janus kinase inhibitors.
- Researchers analyzed data from 1721 patients, finding that LJI led to significant improvements in disease activity at 24 weeks, but patients with LJI had higher overall disease activity levels.
- Although drug retention rates were similar between patients with and without LJI, the findings suggest that early treatment strategies, particularly using interleukin-6 receptor inhibitors, could benefit those with LJI.
Article Synopsis
- This study evaluated the effectiveness and safety of four JAK inhibitors (tofacitinib, baricitinib, peficitinib, and upadacitinib) in treating rheumatoid arthritis in a real-world setting, focusing on reducing bias and adjusting for patient characteristics.
- A total of 622 patients were analyzed, with no significant differences found in retention rates, disease activity scores, or remission rates among the various treatment groups after 6 months.
- Key predictive factors for treatment efficacy included baseline disease activity and previous treatment history, but overall, the four drugs showed similar effectiveness and safety in managing rheumatoid arthritis.
Article Synopsis
- The study aimed to improve patient experiences with self-injection for those with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) by examining various barriers including demographic, physical, and psychological factors.
- Researchers assessed patient experiences using a questionnaire and evaluated upper limb function across different daily activities, employing structural equation modeling to analyze the data.
- Findings indicated that older patients, females, and those with upper limb difficulties faced more challenges with self-injection, emphasizing the need for healthcare workers to consider individual characteristics and pre-existing perceptions when providing education on self-injection.
Article Synopsis
- Drug-induced lupus (DIL) symptoms often mirror systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and typically resolve after stopping the causative medication.
- A 41-year-old woman with ulcerative colitis exhibited polyarthritis, myositis, and tested positive for anti-dsDNA antibodies, leading to a DIL diagnosis post cessation of mesalazine.
- Six months later, she developed lupus myocarditis but showed significant improvement after treatment with glucocorticoids, cyclophosphamide, IV immunoglobulin, and an intra-aortic balloon pump, highlighting the need for careful monitoring of DIL patients with antibody predispositions.
A case report of native vertebral osteomyelitis caused by Cutibacterium modestum.
BMC Infect Dis
April 2022
Background: Cutibacterium modestum was named in 2020. C. modestum was previously called Propionibacterium humerusii.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF