theMednet and ACR Convergence
When the session ends, the conversation continues on theMednet – where physicians ask, answer, and learn.
For the second year, theMednet is collaborating with ACR Convergence to host Q&A before and after the meeting – explore key sessions in greater depth with peers and experts.
Key Sessions Covered
Example Q&A
What is the role of the rheumatologist in recommending and providing GLP-1 medications to their patients given the benefits across many disease domains including osteoarthritis?
“Rheumatologists frequently see overweight patients who come in for chronic knee pain during exercise, which, after clinical examination and X-rays, is diagnosed as osteoarthritis. However, it has been well demonstrated in the literature that weight loss is central to the treatment of osteoarthritis symptoms, even before considering medication. But in most cases, patients have already received this information from healthcare professionals and have not managed to achieve the goal of losing enough weight to find relief. This is where the rheumatologist can step in: they can restore hope by explaining that new therapeutic solutions have recently emerged that could help, called GLP-1 analogues. It then becomes essential to have multidisciplinary care involving not only the rheumatologist but also a nutritionist, dietitian, the patient’s GP, and physical therapist at a minimum. These treatments require the patient to agree to exercise in order to avoid the risk of muscle loss associated with the rapid weight loss induced by these drugs.”
Answered on September 17 2025
Do GLP-1 agonists have measurable anti-inflammatory effects in diseases like RA or spondyloarthropathies beyond weight loss?
Do you have safety concerns when prescribing GLP-1 medications in patients on corticosteroids or immunosuppressive therapy?
How do you weigh the risks and benefits of GLP-1 RAs in patients over age 65 specifically in regards to loss of muscle mass and osteoporosis?
When do you prefer bariatric surgery such as sleeve gastrectomy or gastric bypass over an initial trial of a GLP-1 receptor agonist in patients with severe obesity and painful knee or hip osteoarthritis?
“ACR Convergence delivers a wealth of new information, but it can also create information overload. theMednet offers a more manageable way to continue engaging with key topics before and after the meeting, helping ensure that new knowledge is applied where it matters most – the care of our patients.”
Melissa Briones, MD
Medical Director of Rheumatology at theMednet
Practicing Rheumatologist, Chicago IL
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