ACE is again reporting from American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting – this year in Washington D.C. ACR Convergence is an annual gathering where arthritis healthcare providers and researchers come together to share the newest discoveries and treatments for osteoarthritis and inflammatory arthritis. ACE will be sharing the highlights so our members and subscribers can stay up to date on the best arthritis practices to support people living with arthritis.
Artificial intelligence (AI) in rheumatology: Balancing benefits with fairness and safety
Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing healthcare, but its rapid adoption poses ethical and safety challenges that require immediate attention, according to the keynote address at the Global Rheumatology Summit during ACR Convergence 2024 by Keymanthri Moodley, PhD, MBChB, Distinguished Professor in the Department of Medicine and Division Head of Medical Ethics and Law, Faculty of Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, South Africa, and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Social Medicine, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.
In her talk, titled Artificial Intelligence in Rheumatology: Risks of Ethical Debt, Dr. Moodley stressed the importance of addressing potential harms early in the AI development process. AI offers significant promise in rheumatology, particularly in improving the diagnosis and management of diseases like rheumatoid arthritis through machine learning and wearable devices. These tools can help predict disease flares, personalize care, and optimize clinical decision-making. Additionally, AI is enhancing clinical research by refining eligibility criteria and streamlining trial recruitment.
However, Dr. Moodley warned of ethical challenges, including unequal access to AI technologies, data security risks, and the commercialization of health data. The concept of “ethical debt”—deploying AI tools without fully considering their implications—was a central theme. She called for evidence-based approaches and stronger clinician involvement in AI development to ensure reliability, safety, and equity.
“AI has immense potential, but healthcare professionals must prioritize ethical responsibility and patient safety as we integrate these tools into care,” Dr. Moodley concluded.
Long-Term Benefits of Bimekizumab for Psoriatic Arthritis Highlighted at ACR 2024
Bimekizumab (BKZ), a targeted therapy that blocks the inflammatory proteins IL-17A and IL-17F, continues to show promise for treating psoriatic arthritis (PsA), with new data presented at ACR Convergence 2024 highlighting its long-term effectiveness and safety.
In Abstract 0602. BKZ demonstrated sustained improvement across key PsA symptoms, including joint inflammation, enthesitis (inflammation where tendons attach to bone), and dactylitis (swollen fingers/toes), over two years. Both biologic-naïve patients and those who had an incomplete response to TNF inhibitors showed consistent benefits. At two years, 76-79% of patients who initially achieved a 50% reduction in symptoms (ACR50) maintained their response.
Another study, presented in Abstract 0594, revealed that even patients who had previously not responded to other IL-17 inhibitors experienced significant skin and joint improvements with BKZ. About 97% achieved clear or nearly clear skin, and 63% reached complete skin clearance by 16 weeks. Longer-term psoriasis studies showed skin benefits lasting up to four years, with 83% maintaining clear skin (PASI90). Patients also reported substantial reductions in pain and fatigue, with about half achieving a 50% improvement in pain levels.
Across all studies, BKZ maintained a consistent safety profile, offering durable relief from PsA symptoms and improving quality of life for many patients.
Arthritis Consumer Experts features interviews with leading arthritis clinicians and researchers in our Arthritis at Home program series. In this special episode on PsA, our guest, Dr. Lihi Eder, Co-Director of the Cardio-Rheumatology Program at Women’s College Hospital, and Research Director, Division of Rheumatology at University of Toronto, discusses how psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis are connected. She also shares a new prediction tool for psoriatic arthritis in psoriasis patients, and how scientists and rheumatologists are identifying high-risk individuals and exploring opportunities for early interception.
Special lecture addresses Inequities in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) care
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) care continues to be marred by profound inequities tied to geography, race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. At the 2024 ACR Convergence Dubois Memorial Lecture, Candace H. Feldman, MD, MPH, ScD, explored the roots of these disparities and practical steps rheumatologists can take to create a more equitable future for people living with with lupus.
Dr. Feldman, an expert in diversity and health equity research at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, shared how systemic barriers within healthcare and society hinder access to essential lupus care. These inequities, she emphasized, contribute to avoidable adverse outcomes, especially among vulnerable populations. Improving equity begins with simple yet impactful actions. Rheumatologists can screen for social needs—such as transportation, medication access, and food insecurity—and help patients navigate these barriers. Dr. Feldman also urged providers to reflect on implicit biases, foster trust, and work collaboratively with patients and communities to redesign care delivery.
While systemic change will take time, immediate efforts can improve patient outcomes. “We won’t solve everything overnight,” Dr. Feldman noted, “but we can start now by making tangible changes in care and advocating for broader reforms.” Her call to action underscores the role every rheumatologist plays in building a fairer future for lupus care.
Cheryl Koehn, ACE’s Founder and President of Arthritis Consumer Experts recently spoke to Dr. Sasha Bernatsky, rheumatologist and James McGill Professor at the McGill University Health Centre, about lupus symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and care. They also look at barriers to reimbursement access to lupus medications and health disparities and inequities in lupus care treatment and what arthritis community leaders in Canada are doing to address these challenges. Click hereto see the interview.
Expanding the Role of Palliative Care in Rheumatology
During a poster presentation – Making Rheum for Palliative Care in Rheumatology: Perspectives of Rheumatology and Palliative Care Clinicians – Shannon Herndon, MD Rheumatology Fellow, Duke University School of Medicine described rheumatologists’ and palliative care clinicians’ perspectives on the role of palliative care in rheumatology.
Palliative care is specialized medical care that focuses on providing relief from pain and other symptoms of a serious illness. Palliative care is provided by a team of health care providers, including doctors, nurses, social workers, and other trained specialists. The team works with patients, their families and other providers to add an extra layer of support and relief that complements ongoing care.
While many chronic diseases benefit from this care model, it remains underused in rheumatology yet has potential to improve the lives of people living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and systemic sclerosis (SSc).
For instance, studies show that people with advanced RA experience significant physical and emotional distress, including pain, depression, and fatigue, yet often lack access to palliative care services. Similarly, people with SLE frequently face organ damage and diminished quality of life, while those with advanced systemic sclerosis-interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) report severe breathlessness, fatigue, and reduced function.
Dr. Herndon highlighted barriers to implementation, such as unpredictable disease progression and limited provider training. She called for broader education on palliative care principles, timely referrals, and integration into chronic disease management.
By addressing these gaps, Dr. Herndon said healthcare providers can ensure a holistic approach to rheumatology care, helping people manage complex symptoms, reduce suffering, and improve overall quality of life.