Actualités et résumé du mois

The 2026 updated recommendations from the German, Austrian and Swiss rheumatology societies reaffirm glucocorticoids (15–25 mg prednisone equivalent daily) as the cornerstone of initial treatment for polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), with subsequent tapering guided by disease activity, laboratory parameters and treatment-related adverse events.

Personnes concernées : en cas de fatigue inexpliquée, de nausées, de vomissements, de démangeaisons et/ou de selles claires, en cas de jaunissement des yeux et de la peau (= jaunisse), d'urine foncée, de gonflement abdominal ou de douleurs dans la partie supérieure droite de l'abdomen, contactez immédiatement le médecin qui vous a prescrit Avacopan®

Médecins : Contrôler les paramètres hépatiques : toutes les 2 semaines le 1er mois ; toutes les 4 semaines les 5 mois suivants ; puis en cas de suspicion de problèmes hépatiques. Arrêt ou interruption du traitement si ALT et/ou AST [>] 3 fois la limite supérieure de la normale et/ou aP [>] 2 fois la limite supérieure de la normale, et/ou signes de cholestase

Background/Aims: Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is the second most common inflammatory rheumatic disease of older adults (≥50 years) and is associated with long-term glucocorticoid (GC) use. Nearly half of PMR patients relapse despite GC treatment, and increased cumulative GC exposure is associated with multiple adverse outcomes.

This study provides a comprehensive real-world assessment of the safety profile of avacopan, using data from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System. Various statistical methods were applied to evaluate the frequency, significance, and timing of adverse events (AEs), as well as differences by age and gender.

This integrated analysis combines safety data from three pivotal clinical trials—two phase 2 (CLEAR and CLASSIC) and one phase 3 (ADVOCATE)—evaluating avacopan, an oral selective complement C5a receptor antagonist, in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)–associated vasculitis (AAV), specifically granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) and microscopic polyangiitis (MPA).

VASAS accepte dès à présent les demandes de financement. Saisissez cette opportunité de soutenir la recherche sur les vascularites et soumettez votre demande avant le 31 octobre 2025.

Toutes les informations concernant l'éligibilité, l'étendue du financement et la procédure de candidature sont disponibles sur notre page détaillée.

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial (BACHELOR) evaluated the efficacy and safety of baricitinib, a Janus kinase 1/2 inhibitor, in patients with recent-onset polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) without initial use of oral glucocorticoids.

Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) is a serious condition that causes inflammation of the blood vessels, primarily affecting older adults. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent vision loss or stroke. Doctors often rely on two blood tests - ESR (Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate) and CRP (C-Reactive Protein) - to help diagnose GCA, as these are typically elevated in active disease. However, some patients (about 4-15%) have only ESR or CRP elevated, and 1% have both normal despite having active vasculitis [2].

L'objectif est de trouver d'autres patients EGPA par le biais d'une courte enquête (anonyme) et d'en savoir plus sur leurs besoins et intérêts - notamment en vue de la création éventuelle d'un groupe de patients EGPA en Suisse.

The management of Takayasu arteritis (TAK) remains challenging due to its relapsing nature, often requiring long-term therapy over years. Given the risks of refractory disease and glucocorticoid-related (GC) toxicity, safe and sustained GC-sparing strategies are essential.

On April 8, 2025, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved upadacitinip for the treatment of RCA (LINK: AbbVie Announces European Commission Approval of RINVOQ® (upadacitinib) for the Treatment of Adults with Giant Cell Arteritis - Apr 8, 2025), this extension of indication is based on the data from the SELECT-GCA study now also presented in the full publication.

Relaspes are frequent in ANCA-associated vasculitis. Strategies to individualize treatment to prevent relapses while not putting patients at unnecessary risk for infections or adverse events of treatments is an unmet need.

Giant cell arteritis (GCA) requires urgent diagnosis and treatment because of the potential for vision loss. This manuscript describes a predictive tool (called the HAS-GCA score) to assess the post-test probability of GCA.

Kidney and lung involvement constitute key disease features and largely confer higher disease burden and mortality in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Lung biopsy is only performed in a minority of cases and diagnosis of lung involvement relies on clinical and imaging findings.