INFORMATION FOR THE PRESS


We are delighted to invite you to report on Europe's most important conference on arthritis and rheumatism - EULAR 2009 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Please find the EULAR 2009 press materials available for download below.


EULAR 2009 is now closed, if you have any queries relating to
the EULAR press activities or materials, please contact:


EULAR Media Officers:
Camilla Dormer & Rory Berrie:
Contact tel: + 00 44 (0) 207 331 5317
eularpressoffice@uk.cohnwolfe.com


EULAR 2009 - Press Releases for 13.06.09
Dr Silje Syversen  Embargotime: 09:00
TRACKING LEVELS OF KEY BIOMARKERS REFLECTS DISEASE ACTIVITY AND PROGRESSION OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Copenhagen, Denmark, Saturday 13 June 2009: New research has identified biomarkers associated with inflammation and progression in joint erosion in individuals with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to the results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark. The researchers suggest a potential role for these biomarkers in the monitoring of ongoing disease activity through assessing inflammation and joint destruction, two important targets for the treatment of early RA.
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Dr Solbritt Rantapää Dahlqvist  Embargotime: 09:00
INCREASED LEVELS OF CERTAIN CYTOKINES AND CHEMOKINES PREDICT ONSET OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Copenhagen, Denmark, Saturday 13 June 2009: Up-regulation of certain cytokines and chemokines (signaling molecules involved in the functioning of the immune system) can predict the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) three years before the onset of symptoms, according to the results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Dr Nicolino Ruperto  Embargotime: 09:00
CANAKINUMAB SHOWS PROMISING EFFICACY AND TOLERABILITY IN CHILDREN WITH SYSTEMIC JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS
Copenhagen, Denmark, Saturday 13 June 2009: Canakinumab (ACZ885), a new interleukin-1 (IL-1)-beta blocking monoclonal antibody, shows encouraging efficacy and is well tolerated in children with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA)*, according to a new phase II study presented today at PReS 2009, a joint congress with the 2009 Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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EULAR 2009 - Press Releases for 12.06.09
Dr Paola Tomietto  Embargotime: 09:00
ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION LOWER QUALITY OF LIFE IN MAJORITY OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS PATIENTS
Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday 12 June 2009: 92.8% of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) suffer anxiety and depression which significantly affects both their physical and emotional quality of life (QoL), according to the results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark. Logistic regression analysis revealed that depression was the most significant factor shown to affect QoL (p=0.015; OR=0.18; CI 95%:0.045-0.72).
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Dr Tatiana Lisitsyna  Embargotime: 09:00
63% OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS SUFFER PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS, WITH DEPRESSIVE SPECTRUM CONDITIONS MOST LIKELY
Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday 12 June 2009: Over half (63%) of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) also suffer from psychiatric disorders, with the majority of these (87%) occurring in the depressive spectrum, according to the results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark. Interestingly, over half (52%) of the patients studied indicated that they had experienced stress events before the onset of their RA.
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Dr Gaël Mouterde  Embargotime: 09:00
PATIENTS WITH WINTER AND SPRING ONSET OF RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS HAVE POORER OUTCOMES AT SIX MONTHS THAN THOSE WITH SUMMER ONSET
Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday 12 June 2009: When a patient's first symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) occur in winter, the severity of their RA (as measured by the modified Total Sharp Score, mTSS, an assessment of erosion and joint space narrowing) was rated more severe at six months, when compared to patients whose RA first became symptomatic in summer (Odds Ratio (OR) =2.82 [1.14;7], p=0.0255). Furthermore, RA patients with their first symptoms in spring showed poorer radiographic outcome compared to summer-onset patients (OR=2.83 [1.10;7.37], p=0.0322), according to the results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Dr Lene Sigaard  Embargotime: 09:00
RHEUMATOLOGY PATIENTS WANT IMPROVED ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND BETTER DIALOGUE WITH HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONALS
Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday 12 June 2009: Patients with rheumatic diseases want more information and better communication with healthcare professionals on the sexual issues related to their conditions, according to the results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Dr Wilco de Jager  Embargotime: 09:00
EARLY TREATMENT OF SYSTEMIC ONSET JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS WITH ANAKINRA RESTORES THE IL-18 RESPONSE OF NATURAL KILLER CELLS
Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday 12 June 2009: First line treatment with anakinra (an interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor antagonist), results in a 'good' clinical response (ACRp90) in patients newly diagnosed with systemic onset juvenile idiopathic arthritis (SoJIA), and restores the deficient IL-18 response of natural killer (NK) cells*, according to a new study presented today at PReS 2009, a joint congress with the 2009 Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Dr Tuulikki Sokka  Embargotime: 00:00
INDIVIDUALS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS FROM LOWER GDP COUNTRIES CONTINUE TO WORK DESPITE WORSE RA SYMPTOMS THAN THOSE IN HIGHER GDP COUNTRIES
Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday 12 June 2009: Individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in lower gross domestic product (GDP) countries (GDP below $11,000) are more likely to continue working despite higher disease activity and functional disability scores compared to their counterparts in higher GDP countries (GDP >$24,000) according to a new multinational study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Dr Frank Heldmann  Embargotime: 00:00
ANTI-TNF THERAPY WITH INFLIXIMAB IS ASSOCIATED WITH SUBSTANTIAL AND PERSISTENT CLINICAL BENEFIT OVER FIVE YEARS IN PATIENTS WITH ACTIVE ANKYLOSING SPONDYLITIS
Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday 12 June 2009: After five years of receiving infliximab (IFX) anti-TNF therapy, 61.8% of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) showed substantial clinical benefit (ASAS40, ASsessment in AS, 40-response) and 27.6% achieved ASAS partial remission. Moreover, at five years, 78.4% of AS patients had no arthritis and 84.9% had no enthesitis (inflammation at the junction between tendon and bone). Over this period, patients continued to show a sustained high response rate, low disease activity, good functional state and low creactive protein (CRP, a marker for inflammation) levels, according to the results of a new open-label follow-up study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Dr Codrina Ancuta and Dr Jerry Molitor  Embargotime: 00:00
OVER HALF OF PEOPLE WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS HAVE PERIODONTITIS
Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday 12 June 2009: Over half (56%) of people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) also have periodontitis (a chronic inflammatory disease of the gum and surrounding ligaments and bones that hold the teeth in place), displaying fewer teeth than healthy matched controls, high prevalence of oral sites presenting dental plaque and advanced attachment loss (the extent of periodontal support that has been destroyed around a tooth) (chi square p<0.05), according to the results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark. In addition, these patients were found to have significantly higher RA disease activity and anti-CCP (cyclic citrullinated peptide) antibody levels than others with RA who did not exhibit periodontitis (r=0.84, p<0.05; r=0.78, p<0.05).
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Dr Mareike Otten, Dr Femke Prince, and Dr Claudia Bracaglia  Embargotime: 00:00
THREE STUDIES CONFIRM THE VALUE OF ETANERCEPT THERAPY IN TREATING JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS
Copenhagen, Denmark, Friday 12 June 2009: Three new studies have individually shown the anti-TNF (tumour necrosis factor) therapy etanercept to be effective, with a good safety profile, in children under four years of age with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), and associated with improved Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) in a substantial proportion of children with JIA. The data are being presented at the Paediatric Rheumatology European Society Congress (PReS) 2009, a joint congress with the 2009 Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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EULAR 2009 - Press Releases for 11.06.09
Dr Edward Vital  Embargotime: 00:00
NEW TREATMENT STRATEGY OFFERS HOPE TO RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS PATIENTS WHO HAVE FAILED TO RESPOND TO ALL OTHER THERAPIES
Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday 11 June 2009: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who failed to respond to initial treatment with rituximab (RTX) (a chimeric monoclonal antibody against the protein CD20) can still be successfully re-treated with a second course of RTX after six months, according to the results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Dr Roy Fleishmann  Embargotime: 00:00
A QUARTER OF PATIENTS ON HIGHEST INVESTIGATIONAL DOSES OF CP-690,550 ACHIEVE ACR70 AT WEEK 12
Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday 11 June 2009: A quarter of active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients receiving either 10mg (24.6%) or 15mg (28.1%) twice daily of the investigational oral JAK-3 (janus-associated kinase) inhibitor CP-690,550 (CP) achieved ACR70* after 12 weeks, according to the results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark. The primary outcome for the study was ACR20*, with 75.4% of patients achieving this measure at 12 weeks for both 10mg and 15mg doses.
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Dr Marianne Wallenius  Embargotime: 00:00
WOMEN WITHOUT CHILDREN ARE DIAGNOSED WITH SOME TYPES OF ARTHRITIS FIVE YEARS EARLIER THAN THOSE WHO HAVE HAD CHILDREN
Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday 11 June 2009: Nulliparous women (those who have not given birth to children) are diagnosed with chronic arthritides (including ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) an average of 5.2 years before parous women (those who have given birth to children), according to a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Dr Dirk Foell  Embargotime: 09:00
LEVELS OF SUBCLINICAL INFLAMMATION MARKERS PREDICT WHICH JUVENILE IDIOPATHIC ARTHRITIS PATIENTS WILL RELAPSE POST METHOTREXATE WITHDRAWAL
Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday 11 June 2009: Elevated levels of the inflammatory biomarkers Myeloid Related Protein (MRP*) 8/14 predict an increased risk of relapse following withdrawal of methotrexate (MTX) therapy in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) who have achieved inactive disease status, according to a new study presented today presented today at PReS 2009, a joint congress with the 2009 Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Dr Miguel Sousa  Embargotime: 09:00
REGULAR EXERCISE PROMOTES IMPROVEMENTS IN FUNCTIONAL ABILITY, REDUCES STEROID REQUIREMENTS AND OFFERS PSYCOLOGICAL BENEFITS IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday 11 June 2009: Undertaking a supervised exercise programme can have beneficial effects on functional status and physical function, reduce the need for daily corticosteroid and anti-inflammatory intake and improve levels of depression and anxiety in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Dr Helmut Wittkowski  Embargotime: 09:00
MYELOID RELATED PROTEINS 8 & 14 REFLECT DISEASE ACTIVITY AND RESPONSE TO TREATMENT IN FAMILIAL MEDITERRANEAN FEVER
Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday 11 June 2009: Serum levels of the pro-inflammatory biomarkers myeloid-related protein (MRP) 8 and 14 are increased to a greater extent in patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) during flare than in patients with Neonatal-Onset Multisystem Inflammatory Disease (NOMID) or patients with Muckle Wells Syndrome (MWS), according to the results of a new study presented today at PReS 2009, a joint congress with the 2009 Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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Dr Monica Vazquez del Mercado  Embargotime: 00:00
NOVEL DNA VACCINATION LEADS TO PREVENTION OF KIDNEY DAMAGE IN SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS MODELS
Copenhagen, Denmark, Thursday 11 June 2009: DNA vaccination using lupus autoantigens and interleukin-10 (IL-10, a cytokine that plays an important role in regulating the immune system) has potential as a novel therapy to induce antigen specific tolerance and may help to prevent kidney damage in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), according to a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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EULAR 2009 - Press Releases for 10.06.09
Dr Shunichi Shiozawa  Embargotime: 12:00
SPECIFIC GENETIC PATHWAY IS RESPONSIBLE FOR INTERACTION BETWEEN BODY CLOCK DISTURBANCE AND WORSENING ARTHRITIS
Copenhagen, Denmark, Wednesday 10 June 2009: The genes that regulate human circadian rhythm, or the 'body clock', are significantly disturbed in individuals with arthritis, according to the results of a new study presented today at EULAR 2009, the Annual Congress of the European League Against Rheumatism in Copenhagen, Denmark. Notably, a specific genetic pathway has been identified as responsible for interactions between the genes that regulate the body clock and those that may worsen symptoms of arthritis.
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PReS 2009   Embargotime: 12:00
PReS 2009 background information
Background information on PReS 2009 for media
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EULAR 2009 - Press Releases for 05.06.09
EULAR   Embargotime: 00:00
EULAR 2009 background information
Background information on EULAR 2009 for media
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EULAR 2009   No embargotime
Rheumatic diseases backgrounder EULAR 2009
Information for press on rheumatic diseases
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