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Credit: Altoona Center for Clinical Research

Results from the Phase 3 INVIGORATE-2 study demonstrated the benefit of intravenous (IV) secukinumab for the rapid improvement of disease signs and symptoms in patients with 

The placebo-controlled trial revealed IV secukinumab achieved significantly greater improvements in disease activity, psoriasis, physical function, and quality of life through Week 16 versus placebo. Those who switched from placebo to IV secukinumab at Week 16 experienced the same treatment-related benefit.

“Administration of IV secukinumab could provide rheumatologists additional treatment options to help address the individual treatment needs of patients with PsA,” wrote the investigative team, led by Alan Kivitz, MD, Altoona Center for Clinical Research.

PsA is often linked to a reduction in quality of life, given its propensity for chronic pain, reduced physical function and work capacity, and emotional and social impairment.

 This patient population faces a notable economic burden, with higher healthcare-related costs and resource utilization than those without PsA.

Secukinumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody selectively inhibiting proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-17A, approved in the United States and Europe for psoriasis, axial spondyloarthritis, and PsA.

 Since most approved treatments for PsA are administered subcutaneously or orally, IV secukinumab’s alternate delivery could prove flexible as a patient and physician treatment option.

The INVIGORATE-2 trial randomized individuals aged ≥18 with active PsA 1:1 to receive IV secukinumab 6 mg/kg at baseline, followed by 3 mg/kg every 4 weeks (Q4W), or placebo.

 IV secukinumab doses were based on extensive pharmacokinetic analyses and modeling of Phase 2 and 3 data of secukinumab in patients with PsA.

At Week 16, individuals randomized to placebo were switched to IV secukinumab Q4W, while patients randomized to IV secukinumab continued their dosing regimen through Week 52. A post-treatment follow-up visit took place at Week 60 for the safety follow-up period,

For this analysis, the primary efficacy outcome was achieving a 50% improvement in the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) response criteria, with a primary efficacy endpoint at Week 16. The efficacy and safety of IV secukinumab were evaluated through Weeks 52 and 60, respectively.

The full study population (n = 381) was randomized to receive IV secukinumab (n = 191) or placebo (n = 190), with balanced patient demographics and baseline disease characteristics between treatment arms. Most randomized to IV secukinumab (86.4%) and placebo (85.3%) were naive to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors. A total of 177 (92.7%) and 170 (89.5%) patients in each treatment group completed treatment period 2, respectively.

Upon analysis, Kivitz and colleagues found all primary and secondary efficacy endpoints for secukinumab achieved statistical significance (all adjusted 

 <.05) versus placebo. A significantly greater proportion of patients receiving IV secukinumab achieved the primary endpoint of ACR50 response rates at Week 16 compared with placebo (31.4% vs. 6.3%; adjusted 

Significantly higher ACR50 responses were identified with IV secukinumab as early as Week 4, with maintenance through Week 16 (

 <.0005). Patients treated with IV secukinumab achieved all secondary efficacy endpoints at Week 16 (all adjusted 

After the switch from placebo to IV secukinumab at Week 16, patients demonstrated rapid improvement in ACR50 response rates. These responses were maintained or improved up to Week 52 in the IV secukinumab (58.0%) and placebo/IV secukinumab (64.0%) cohorts.

Over the entire treatment period, approximately 63% of individuals who received any IV secukinumab experienced a treatment-emergent adverse event (TEAE). Investigators noted no new or unexpected safety signals were identified with IV secukinumab, but a single death was reported in the placebo group before Week 16.

“The availability of IV secukinumab may be beneficial and would provide additional treatment options for these patients and their physicians,” Kivitz and colleagues wrote. “Additional treatment modalities could benefit specific patient populations, such as patients with obesity who are more likely to have higher disease activity and may benefit from tighter control of weight-based treatment.”

Kivitz A, Sedova L, Churchill M, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Secukinumab for the Treatment of Active Psoriatic Arthritis: Results From the Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase III INVIGORATE-2 Study. Arthritis Rheumatol. Published online September 19, 2024. doi:10.1002/art.42997

Lee S, Xie L, Wang Y, Vaidya N, Baser O. Comorbidity and economic burden among moderate-to-severe psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis patients in the US Department of Defense population. J Med Econ. 2018;21(6):564-570. doi:10.1080/13696998.2018.1431921

Kolbinger F, Di Padova F, Deodhar A, et al. Secukinumab for the treatment of psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and axial spondyloarthritis: Physical and pharmacological properties underlie the observed clinical efficacy and safety. Pharmacol Ther. 2022;229:107925. doi:10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107925

Articles

The Phase 3 INVIGORATE-2 study demonstrated that intravenous secukinumab significantly improves disease activity, physical function, and quality of life in patients with active psoriatic arthritis compared to placebo. The trial showed that patients switching from placebo to secukinumab also experienced benefits. Secukinumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-17A, offers an alternative delivery method to existing treatments. The study confirmed the drug's efficacy and safety, with no new safety concerns. The findings suggest that intravenous secukinumab could be a valuable treatment option for specific patient populations.

Results from INVIGORATE-2 showed IV secukinumab led to improved clinical measures of PsA, with a similar safety profile to subcutaneous secukinumab. 

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On the HCPLive psoriatic arthritis page, resources on the topics of medical news and expert insight into PsA can be found. Content includes articles, interviews, videos, podcasts, and breaking news on arthritis, and more.

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IV Secukinumab Rapidly Improved Clinical Responses in Psoriatic Arthritis 

Tim Smith joined the MJH Life Sciences team as an assistant editor for HCPLive in August 2022. He graduated from UC Berkeley with a degree in political science, working in multimedia journalism as a staff writer prior to joining MJH. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, watching TV, listening to podcasts, and rock climbing. You can contact him at 

While melanoma is less common among those in racial and ethnic minorities, new findings suggest those in such groups with a first 

 have a rate of second primary melanoma diagnosis similar to that of White individuals.

These data resulted from a new analysis which was authored in part by Shoshana Zhang, BS, from Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin. To the best of Zhang’s team’s knowledge, this study was the first to report both absolute and relative measures for secondary primary melanoma risk.

Zhang et al. noted prior to the analysis that those with melanoma have almost a 9-fold risk increase of subsequent primary melanoma compared to others.

“However, the extent to which risk of a second primary melanoma varies across racial and ethnic groups is less certain,” Zhang and colleagues wrote. “While research has focused on measures of relative risk, less is known about the absolute risk of second primary melanoma across race and ethnicity, which may inform population-level surveillance strategies.”

The research team’s main aim of their research was to track the occurrence of a second primary cutaneous melanoma. This was defined by the team as any melanoma diagnosis made subsequently at 2 months minimum following the initial report of melanoma. The key variables of their interest were race and ethnicity, as categorized by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.

The investigators looked at data drawn from 17 SEER-associated registries to find subjects who had been given a diagnosis of a first primary cutaneous melanoma in the timeframe between 2000 - 2019. There were 2 hypotheses determined to evaluate risk of 2 primary melanomas being developed.

Specifically, the research team’s null hypothesis assumed that the first and second melanoma occurrences were independent events, with each maintaining the same level of risk. In the team’s alternative hypothesis, they worked to make an estimation of the conditional risk by looking into the likelihood of second melanoma development following the initial diagnosis of a first one.

The investigators decided to compare these 2 models, seeking to determine any excess risk of a second melanoma beyond what would be expected exclusively by chance. Excess absolute risks (EARs) and standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were used by the research team to compare actual numbers of second melanomas to expected numbers in the general population.

They calculated SIRs through the division of observed cases by expected cases. EARs represented the difference between cases which had been observed versus expected. All of the determined rates were adjusted for patient age through the use of the 2000 standard US population.

Overall, the team concluded that 546,756 subjects had a first primary melanoma diagnosis and, among these, 0.2% had been reported as American Indian or Alaska Native, 0.4% as Black, 3.1% as Hispanic, 0.6% as Asian or Pacific Islander, and 96% as White. They reported that both first primary melanoma (47.67 per 100,000 people) and second primary melanoma (1457.40 per 100,000 person-years) incidence had been the highest among those in the White population.

Consequently, compared to other racial and ethnic cohorts under both hypotheses, the investigators noted that White subjects had a higher incidence rate of developing 2 primary melanomas. They added that compared to those within the general population, Black subjects exhibited the highest relative risk for second primary melanoma development. They had a standardized incidence ratio (SIR) of 264.39.

After Black subjects, there were those in the Asian or Pacific Islander category (SIR: 196.68), those in the Hispanic category (SIR: 62.71), those in the American Indian or Alaska Native category (SIR: 48.47), and those in the White category (SIR: 11.63). Despite such findings, and although they had a lower relative risk, those who were White were noted as having the highest absolute number of excess second primary melanomas.

Specifically, they had 1332.07 cases per 100,000 person-years. The research team later acknowledged any potential limitations to their research.

“Study limitations include potential misclassification of recurring previous melanoma as a second primary melanoma (although there is no reason to believe this misclassification would occur differentially across racial and ethnic groups) and the potential for surveillance bias (ie, diagnostic scrutiny) to overestimate differences across groups,” they wrote.

Zhang S, Patel VR, Spencer JC, Haynes AB, Adamson AS. Racial and Ethnic Differences in the Risk of Second Primary Melanoma. JAMA Dermatol. Published online October 09, 2024. doi:10.1001/jamadermatol.2024.3450.

Bradford PT﻿, Freedman DM﻿, Goldstein AM﻿, Tucker MA﻿. Increased risk of second primary cancers after a diagnosis of melanoma. Arch Dermatol. 2010;146(3):265-272. doi:10.1001/archdermatol.2010.2.

New findings indicate that racial and ethnic minorities with a first melanoma diagnosis have a similar rate of second primary melanoma as White individuals. The study, led by Shoshana Zhang, is the first to report both absolute and relative measures for secondary melanoma risk. Data from SEER registries (2000-2019) showed that while White individuals had the highest incidence of both first and second melanomas, Black individuals exhibited the highest relative risk for second primary melanoma. The study acknowledges potential limitations, including misclassification and surveillance bias.

This analysis indicates that patients with a history of a first melanoma are at risk for subsequent development of melanoma regardless of their race or their ethnicity.

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First Melanoma History is Risk Factor for Subsequent Diagnoses Regardless of Race

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who covers psychiatry, sleep medicine, and geriatrics. She joined MJH Life Sciences in September 2023 after graduating from The College of New Jersey with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and professional writing. In her free time, she enjoys creative writing and reading.

A new study demonstrated secukinumab and adalimumab are both effective at treating 

) but secukinumab was more suitable for severe skin involvement and adalimumab for significant ultrasound-confirmed synovitis.

“Notably, our analysis pinpointed distinct advantages for each medication in managing PsA,” wrote investigators, led by Yiyi Wang, from the department of dermatology at Rare Diseases Center in West China Hospital.

PsA symptoms may start as joint stiffness and tender and swollen joints but can transition to irreversible joint description: a condition linked to poor quality of life and socioeconomic burdens. Guidelines recommend biological disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) to treat PsA, but the Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis specifically recommends tumor necrosis factor inhibitors and interleukin-17 inhibitors, 2 subclasses of bDMARDs, to treat PsA across all 6 core domains.

Secukinumab and adalimumab, in the tumor necrosis factor inhibitor and interleukin-17 inhibitor classes, respectively, are approved by the National Medical Products Administration to treat PsA. The question remains: what drug is more effective at treating PsA?

Investigators conducted a prospective cohort study to compare the efficacy of secukinumab and adalimumab in patients with PsA through clinical and ultrasonographic evaluations. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients achieving ≥ 20% improvement in the ACR response (ACR20) at week 12. Secondary outcomes included evaluations for axial arthritis, enthesitis, skin involvement, minimal disease activity, health assessment questionnaires, and ultrasound changes.

Participants (n = 116), leveraged from the PARWCH database, attended the department of dermatology at West China Hospital between 2020 and October 2022 and were included if they were ≥ 18 years old, had a confirmed PsA diagnosis, and received secukinumab (n = 58) or adalimumab (n = 58). People were excluded if they were diagnosed with another form of arthritis. The team followed up participants at weeks 4, 12, 24, and 52.

Investigators reported that there was no significant difference in ACR20 response between participants on secukinumab or adalimumab at week 12 (odds ratio [OR], 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.26 – 1.37; 

Yet, secukinumab demonstrated superior efficacy in achieving Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI)90 (OR, 2.25; 95% CI, 1.07 – 3.74; 

 = .03). This indicated that secukinumab was better than adalimumab at treating severe skin involvement.

However, adalimumab demonstrated better improvement in ultrasound synovitis count (β: 0.94, 95% CI: 0.09 – 1.79, 

= .03) and synovitis PD signal (β: 0.20, 95% CI: 0.03 –0.36, 

= .02). The finding suggests adalimumab is a better option for enhancing inflammatory joint changes.

“Ultimately, we determined that neither adalimumab nor secukinumab could reverse structural abnormalities such as enthesophytes and bone erosions,” investigators wrote.

Despite this, investigators said the real-world data show the important role of ultrasound in guiding treatment choices and monitoring the disease activity of PsA.

They noted how the study was limited by its non-randomized design which could create selection bias and leave room for potential confounders. The team emphasized the need for a larger-scale, long-term comparative real-world study between secukinumab and adalimumab to assess the implications of ultrasound results.

“Secukinumab should be recommended as the preferred choice for patients with more severe skin involvement, whereas adalimumab could be better suited for patients experiencing more pronounced joint or back pain,” investigators concluded. “Additionally, based on detailed ultrasound examinations, both secukinumab and adalimumab are appropriate for PsA patients with axial involvement and/or peripheral arthritis, primarily exhibiting enthesitis, tenosynovitis, and bursitis. In case of ultrasound-confirmed significant synovitis, adalimumab might be the favored option.”

Wang Y, Xiao Y, Zhang L, et al. Superior effect of adalimumab versus secukinumab on ultrasound-confirmed synovitis in psoriatic arthritis: comprehensive evidence from musculoskeletal ultrasound and clinical assessments. 

. 2024;35(1):2411849. doi:10.1080/09546634.2024.2411849

Gossec L, Kerschbaumer A, Ferreira RJO, et al. EULAR recommendations for the management of psoriatic arthritis with pharmacological therapies: 2023 update. 

. 2024;83(6):706-719. Published 2024 May 15. doi:10.1136/ard-2024-225531

Secukinumab and adalimumab are both effective treatments for psoriatic arthritis (PsA), with secukinumab being more suitable for severe skin involvement and adalimumab for significant ultrasound-confirmed synovitis. A prospective cohort study compared their efficacy, finding no significant difference in ACR20 response at week 12. However, secukinumab showed superior efficacy in treating severe skin involvement, while adalimumab was better for improving inflammatory joint changes. The study highlights the importance of ultrasound in guiding treatment choices and suggests further research to assess long-term implications.

Secukinumab is best for severe skin involvement, while adalimumab improves synovitis in PsA. Both are effective, but larger studies are needed for long-term outcomes.


Secukinumab, Adalimumab Have Distinct Advantages for Treating PsA

 who continue opioid use beyond 90 days are at significantly greater risk of developing depression or a sleep disorder, according to findings from a retrospective cohort analysis.

New data from a team of Spain investigators showed long-term opioid use to treat the painful symptoms of fibromyalgia syndrome could be detrimental to a patient’s psychiatric and sleep-related health. The findings provide evidence to clinical guidelines recommending against the prescription of opioids to treat fibromyalgia in the first place, and emphasize the need for clinicians to gauge and continuously monitor patients’ self-treatment of their fibromyalgia symptoms.

Investigators led by Isabel Hurtado of the Fisabio research institute in Valencia, noted that much prior research has shown that opioids are “routinely prescribed to a considerable proportion of patients with (fibromyalgia), including long-term treatments and strong opioids,” despite an evident history of poor outcomes associated with the pain reliever drug class.

“Most clinical guidelines generally recommend against the use of opioids for (fibromyalgia), but some authors recognize a potential, empirical role in lack of effect of preferred therapeutic approaches, when used as a rescue therapy, for short periods of time and for selected patients,” the team wrote. “Sustained opioid use over time especially is associated to a myriad of potential, serious adverse outcomes and there is evidence that fibromyalgia is a predictor for long-term opioid use in older adults.”

Indeed, experts including Jason Busse, DC, PhD, professor in the Departments of Anesthesia and Health Research Methods, Evidence and Impact at McMaster University, previously told 

 that options including opioid and cannabis should not be considered first-line options to treat chronic pain symptoms consistent with conditions like fibromyalgia—and any strategy that includes them in care should be vetted by clinicians.

“Shared decision-making is going to be critical to ensure that the decision whether or not to look at a trial of these interventions, is consistent with that patient's values and preferences,” Busse said.

Cannabis or Opioids for Chronic Pain: Do Either Have a Role?

The Role of Cannabis, Opioids for Chronic Pain, with Jason Busse, DC, PhD

Hurtado and colleagues sought to compare the link between long-term opioid use (>90 days) with occurrence of depression, sleep disorders and suicidal ideation events compared with that of short-term opioid use in a cohort of adults with fibromyalgia who received an initial prescription between 2014 – 2018.

They conducted their retrospective analysis using multivariable Cox regression modality and propensity scores to interpret the association between each outcome and the duration of opioid treatment for fibromyalgia. Their analysis included 10,334 patients who received either short-term (n =8309 [80.4%]) or long-term (n = 2025 [19.6%]) opioids for their fibromyalgia.

Among the 2 arms, patients using long-term opioids were more likely to be women (89.40% vs 69.59%; 

 < .001), and were additionally more likely to use tobacco regularly. Investigators additionally observed higher rates of the following outcomes among patients receiving long-term opioids versus short-term opioids, respectively:

Adjusted analyses showed that long-term opioid use was linked to a 58% increased risk of depression (hazard ratio [HR], 1.58; 95% CI, 1.29 – 1.95) and 30% increased risk of sleep disorders (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.09 – 1.55). However, the risk for suicidal ideation was not considered statistically significant.

“These findings suggest that continued opioid use for 90 days or more may aggravate common comorbidities of (fibromyalgia) when compared with patterns of short-term treatment, and that shorter treatments may be preferable,” investigators wrote.

Hurtado and colleagues concluded their analysis support recommendations against using opioids to treat fibromyalgia, and elucidate in what ways the drugs may actually worsen the condition’s most common comorbidities.

“However, they are routinely employed in clinical practice, and when used for prolonged periods they may lead to worse outcomes,” the team wrote. “Our results are in line with recommendations to avoid long-term opioid therapy in patients with fibromyalgia.”

Hurtado I, Robles C, Peiró S, et al. Long versus short-term opioid therapy for fibromyalgia syndrome and risk of depression, sleep disorders and suicidal ideation: a population-based, propensity-weighted cohort study. RMD Open. 2024;10(3):e004466. Published 2024 Sep 23. doi:10.1136/rmdopen-2024-004466

Pine L. Jason Busse, DC, PhD: Do Cannabis, Opioids have a Role in Chronic Pain Management? 

. Published May 10, 2024. Accessed October 11, 2024. https://www.hcplive.com/view/jason-busse-dc-phd-do-cannabis-opioids-have-a-role-in-chronic-pain-management-

A retrospective cohort analysis highlights the risks associated with long-term opioid use in fibromyalgia patients, linking it to increased depression and sleep disorders. The study supports clinical guidelines against opioid prescriptions for fibromyalgia, emphasizing the need for careful patient monitoring. Long-term opioid use is associated with higher rates of anxiety, depression, psychotic disorders, and sleep disorders compared to short-term use. The findings underscore the importance of shared decision-making in treatment plans and suggest that shorter opioid treatments may be preferable to mitigate adverse outcomes.

Research from Spain suggests long-term opioid use to treat fibromyalgia pain significantly raises the risk of depression, anxiety and sleep disorders in patients.

Fibromyalgia

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Long-term Opioids for Fibromyalgia Linked to Depression, Sleep Issues

Abigail Brooks is an assistant editor for 

She joined MJH Life Sciences in August 2023 shortly after graduating from Monmouth University where she earned her BA in Communication with a concentration in Public Relations/Journalism and later an MA in Interactive Digital Media. She enjoys traveling, running, and reading books. She can be reached at abrooks@mjhlifesciences.com.

New research is calling attention to an inverse association between dietary vitamin C intake and the risk of developing 

The analysis of data from more than 10,000 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2013-2018 participants revealed a reduced risk of gout among those who reported consuming greater quantities of dietary vitamin C. Results also pointed to a reduced risk of hyperuricemia with increased vitamin C intake.

Gout is the most common type of inflammatory arthropathy in adults, affecting an estimated 3.9% of adults in the US. Although its etiology is multifaceted and involves genetics, diet, and lifestyle, high serum uric acid is a key risk factor for gout. The antioxidant properties of vitamin C have led to speculation that it may indirectly reduce uric acid production.

“Currently, evidence regarding the association between dietary vitamin C levels and gout is insufficient,” Shengguang Li, of the department of rheumatology and immunology at Peking University International Hospital in China, and colleagues wrote.

To fill this gap in research, investigators assessed cross-sectional data on gout, dietary vitamin C intake, and other variables from individuals > 20 years of age who participated in NHANES 2013-2018. Pregnant females or those with missing data on gout, dietary vitamin C intake, or covariates were excluded from the analysis.

Vitamin C intake from the first survey in the NHANES database was measured through a 24-hour dietary recall during an interview using the automated multiple-pass method to collect detailed information about all foods and beverages consumed in the previous 24 hours. Nutrient content, including vitamin C, was calculated using the food composition database.

Vitamin C intake from the second survey was measured through a second 24-hour dietary recall conducted via telephone a few days after the initial interview. The same automated multiple-pass method was used to collect detailed dietary information about the participants’ consumption over the previous 24 hours, and vitamin C content was calculated using the same food composition database, measuring vitamin C intake from a different time point to account for day-to-day variability in the participant’s diet.

Participants were categorized into 4 quartiles based on their calculated dietary vitamin C intake:

Gout was defined as a positive answer to the question “Has a doctor or other health professional ever informed you that you had gout?”. Serum uric acid (SUA) concentration was measured at the NHANES Laboratory for all 3 cycles, and hyperuricemia was defined as an SUA concentration >6mg/dL.

In total, 12,589 participants from the NHANES 2013-2018 were included in the present analysis, 652 (5%) of whom experienced gout. The average age was 49.9 ± 17.5 years and 50.7% of participants were female. There were 3177 participants in Q1, 3142 in Q2, 3148 in Q3, and 3122 in Q4.

Investigators pointed out a significant difference in age across quartiles (

 <.001). Specifically, age increased from 48.3 ± 17.3 years in Q1 to 50.3 ± 17.6 years in Q4. The sex distribution also varied, with males comprising 48.9% of Q1 and 53% of Q4 (

Results showed the prevalence of gout decreased across quartiles, with Q1 showing the highest percentage at 5.40% (n = 169) and Q4 showing the lowest at 4.60% (n = 142). After adjusting for other risk factors, investigators observed a significant correlation between vitamin C intake and gout (odds ratio [OR], 0.88; 95% CI, 0.79–0.97; 

 = .015). Additionally, when dietary vitamin C consumption was analyzed using quartiles, there was a significant inverse association between dietary vitamin C and gout after adjusting for potential confounders.

Compared with individuals with lower vitamin C consumption in Q1, the adjusted OR values for dietary vitamin C intake and gout were 0.87 (95% CI, 0.69–1.1; 

 = .237) in Q2, 0.81 (95% CI, 0.64–1.02; 

 = .076) in Q3, and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.6–0.99; 

 = .042) in Q4. Subgroup analyses revealed significant interactions between vitamin C levels and gout, notably influenced by sex. Investigators observed a similar inverse association between vitamin C intake and gout when they used data on dietary vitamin C from the second survey, even after adjusting for all covariates (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.72–0.91; 

Vitamin C was also negatively associated with hyperuricemia (OR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.9–0.98; 

 = .005). Compared with Q1, the adjusted OR values for dietary vitamin C from the first survey and hyperuricemia were 0.77 (95% CI, 0.69–0.86; 

 = .65) for Q2, 0.81 (95% CI, 0.72–0.91; 

 = .014) for Q3, and 0.72 (95% CI, 0.64–0.81; 

Investigators acknowledged multiple limitations to these findings, including the cross-sectional study design; the inability to establish causality between vitamin C intake and gout; the potential lack of generalizability to other populations due to dietary differences; residual confounding; and recall bias for vitamin C intake.

“There is a negative association between dietary vitamin C intake and gout prevalence among adults in the United States,” investigators concluded.

 “The results of this study highlight the association between dietary vitamin C intake and gout.”

Zou Y, Liu Y, Li S, et al. Association between dietary vitamin C intake and gout among American adults. 

https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1431323

National Kidney Foundation. Quick Facts: Gout and Chronic Kidney Disease. Accessed October 11, 2024. 

https://www.kidney.org/kidney-topics/quick-facts-gout-and-chronic-kidney-disease

Research indicates an inverse relationship between dietary vitamin C intake and gout risk, based on data from over 10,000 NHANES participants. Higher vitamin C consumption correlates with reduced gout and hyperuricemia risk. The study categorized participants into quartiles based on vitamin C intake, revealing a significant inverse association between vitamin C levels and gout prevalence. Despite the promising findings, limitations include the cross-sectional design, potential confounding factors, and recall bias. The study underscores the potential role of vitamin C in managing gout risk.

The analysis of NHANES data revealed an inverse association between dietary vitamin C intake and gout risk.

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Increased Dietary Vitamin C Intake May Help Reduce Gout Risk, Study Finds

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Calabrese discussed considerations for patients with rheumatic disease diagnosed with COVID-19 and the virus’s role in promoting inflammation. 

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Uncovering the Role of COVID-19 in Rheumatic Disease, with Leonard Calabrese, DO 

A new AHA statement highlights the benefits of lipoprotein apheresis for familial hypercholesterolemia and urges broader access to the underutilized therapy.

Dyslipidemia

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

AHA Scientific Statement Promotes Expanded Use of Lipoprotein Apheresis 

These data highlight barriers to pediatric treatments for eczema, providing potential strategies for caregivers and patients for adherence improvement.

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Study Highlights Strategies for Treatment Adherence in Pediatric Atopic Dermatitis

A meta-analysis revealed taking pregabalin with supplement vitamin D reduced migraine frequency in children by 88%

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Topiramate, Pregabalin Reduce Headache Frequency, Intensity in Pediatric Migraine

The sNDA submission to the FDA included a Priority Review Voucher, which commits the regulatory agency to an accelerated review timeline.

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FDA News

Alnylam Submits sNDA for Vutrisiran for Treatment of ATTR-CM 

The anti-TFPI significantly reduced ABR compared to routine prophylaxis treatment in the phase 3 BASIS trial. 

Hematology

FDA Approves Marstacimab-hncq (Hympavzi) for Hemophilia A or B Without Inhibitors 

Patrick Campbell is the managing editor of HCPLive. Formerly the editorial lead of Endocrinology Network, Practical Cardiology, and Rheumatology Network, Patrick has spent years spearheading coverage surrounding cardiometabolic health and rheumatic disease for MJH Life Sciences. He now helps to lead coverage in each of these respective areas for HCPLive. Before joining MJH Life Sciences in 2019, he spent time as a beat reporter with the Pocono Record in Stroudsburg, PA, and Star News Group in Manasquan, NJ. He also touts experience in multimedia, having spent time as a multimedia specialist with NJ Advance Media and multimedia coordinator at the Pocono Record. Follow him on Twitter @RealPatCampbell or reach him via email at PCampbell@mjhlifesciences.com.

Linda Gillam, MD, MPH, discusses the idea that the cardiology community may. be overtreating aortic stenosis. 

Structural Heart Disease

Is Cardiology Overtreating Aortic Stenosis? with Linda Gillam, MD, MPH

This research letter suggests that direct GOC may be considered efficacious for pediatric patients reporting non-severe symptoms which are skin-limited during a macrolide treatment.

Allergy

Allergy condition center page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on allergic and inflammatory diseases. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for food and seasonal allergies, as well as allergic asthma and related conditions.

Graded Oral Challenge Safe, Effective for Pediatric Macrolide Allergy 

New phase 2b data highlight denifanstat’s impact on histological features of MASH, meeting both fibrosis improvement and MASH resolution primary endpoints.

Hepatology

MASH / MASLD

The HCPLive MASH & MASLD page is a comprehensive resource for clinical news and insights on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and steatohepatitis. This page consists of interviews, articles, podcasts, and videos on the research, treatment and development of therapies for fatty liver disease, steatohepatitis, and more.

FASCINATE-2: Denifanstat Improves Disease Activity, MASH Resolution, Fibrosis

Factors, including older age at onset and longer length of stay, may predict longevity for schizophrenia in psychiatric long-term care settings.

Schizophrenia

The HCPLive schizophrenia page is a resource for medical news and expert insights on the mental disorder. This page features expert-led coverage, articles, videos and research on the therapies and development of treatments for schizophrenia, and more.

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