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Drug Safety

RECIPE Study: Non-opioid Analgesics following Total Hip Arthroplasty

Patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty using a combination of paracetamol, ibuprofen, and dexamethasone, had optimal responses with the lowest morphine consumption, and fewer adverse events.

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Pharmacologic Efficacy in Still's Disease

A systematic review of the effectiveness and safety of pharmacological treatments for adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) supports the use of either IL-1 or IL-6 inhibitors.

A metanalysis was performed using databases, trial

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Multiplicative Adverse Effects of Social Determinants of Health in Lupus Nephritis: A Meta-analysis and Systematic Review

A metanalysis shows that social determinants of health adversely impacts patients with lupus nephritis. Lupus nephritis is a significant complication of SLE, often with dramatic increases in morbid and mortal risks. Outcomes are likely to be augmented by social determinants of health, including

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FDA issued a drug safety warning linking thiopurine (AZA, 6MP) use in pregnancy & a rare risk of intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP). ICP has been reported in pts w/ CD, UC, or SLE; however thiopurines are not FDA approved for these Dx https://t.co/s37eRuAtQx

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Featured BSR Abstracts (5.2.2024)

Dr. Jack Cush muses on the news, journal reports, FDA announcements and the 2024 BSR abstracts just released.

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ARCTIC Rewind: Can You Taper DMARDs with Remission? https://t.co/5Mkdyt4DIK https://t.co/0Z2gVpjIgX
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Methotrexate Does Not Increase ILD Risk in Dermatomyositis

A cohort analysis of dermatomyositis (DM) patients starting immunomodulators finds that methotrexate use was not associated with an increased risk of interstitial lung disease (ILD).

ILD affects ~23% of DM patients and the oft used MTX is has a low risk of pneumonitis and pulmonary

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ARCTIC Rewind: Can You Taper DMARDs with Remission?

In an open-label, randomized, non-inferiority trial, rheumatoid arthritis patients in remission were subject to tapering of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), and while maintenance of remission was seen in some, many DMARD tapering patients did flare and were unable to maintain

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TLR Antagonist in Lupus

Medpage Today

An investigational Toll-like receptor (TLR) antagonist was effective in reducing biomarkers and clinical symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in a pilot trial, evidence that the innate immune system may hold the key to lupus pathophysiology.

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Is Colchicine Rx a problem? Retrospective study of UK Clinical Practice registry, 13945 gout initiated allopurinol with colchicine (64yrs; 78% male). 26% on 1+ meds interacting w/ colchicine. Diarrhea & MI more freq w/ comorbidities & more severe CKD https://t.co/ZkhpzaTjjI https://t.co/e3BO813b30
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'Drug Rediscovery for Rare Immune Mediated Inflammatory Diseases’ - a 6 center consortium will study if JAKi (filgotinib) is effective and safe in 3 rare disorders -- Behcets, inflammatory myositis & IgG4 related disease. https://t.co/UyZM4VNSY2 https://t.co/D2D1tdygS4
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Hyperpigmentation from Hydroxychloroquine. From 316 HCQ pts, 26% got hyperpigmentation; delayed onset of 12 mos (6–30mos) after median cum. dose of 108 g. Seen on face (602%), Legs (36%) & hands (20%). Daily sun exposure decrease in the incidence (P=0.02) https://t.co/6B6Z0suXB4

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Rheum Chapter Notes (4.26.2024)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews this past week’s news and journal articles from RheumNow.com.

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Predicting CKD Outcomes in Lupus Nephritis

An observational cohort study suggests that proteinuria levels in lupus nephritis (LN) patients did not predict their histologic class.

A multicentre observational study of patients with biopsy-proven LN; either proliferative (PLN) or membranous (MLN) lupus nephritis were compared regarding

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High risk medications for pregnancy: MTX- 40% pregnancy loss, 6-10% birth defects MMF/CYC - 40% pregnancy loss, 25% birth defects Recommend 2 forms contraception on MMF Change meds slowly to safe Rx and monitor disease activity at least 3 mos before pregnancy #RNL2024 @RheumNow

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Hyperpigmentation from Hydroxychloroquine. From 316 HCQ pts, 26% got hyperpigmentation; delayed onset of 12 mos (6–30mos) after median cum. dose of 108 g. Seen on face (602%), Legs (36%) & hands (20%). Daily sun exposure decrease in the incidence (P=0.02) https://t.co/UX8hnwJjhs https://t.co/xU9RWCcr9C
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Canary in a Coal Mine (4.19.2024)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews regulatory reports, news and novel journal articles - this week focusing on Sjogren's, ILD, Gout and Uveitis.

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SGLT2 Inhibitors Lowers Gout Risks in Type 2 Diabetes

A population-based cohort has demonstrated that sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) use in gout patients is superior to sulfonylurea therapy in lowering the risk of incident gout and recurrent flares among patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). 

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This study examined the risk of neuroinflammatory disease after initiation of b/tsDMARDs Overall risk of neuroinflammatory events among new users of TNF inhibitors did not differ substantially as compared to new users of other b/tsDMARDs In AC&R https://t.co/8rGgZmpq9c https://t.co/5gxuWBctBL
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Korean National Insurance claims study (2010-18) of NSAID use and CV events found among 19,775 RA pts (F/U 98290 PYs); there were 1663 cases of CV evens. Increasing NSAID doses incr incident CVD(adjHR 1.10); including CVA (aHR 1.09). CHF (aHR 1.12) https://t.co/mdRKYMQq1s https://t.co/36i2KT4j5A
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ICYMI: Sex Disparities in PsA/SpA

Dr. Eder delivered an illuminating talk at RheumNow Live 2024 on sex differences in psoriatic arthritis; the disease may manifest differently in men and women, and therapeutic responses may differ between the sexes.

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Neuropsychiatric SLE - 2/3 Improved at 12 Months

The management and outcomes of neuropsychiatric systemic lupus erythematosus (NPSLE) can be challenging as there is limited data. 

A retrospective cohort study identified 350 NPSLE events (between 1999-2015) defined by ACR definitions and categorized as being:

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JAMA: SLE Review

Drs. Caroline Siegel and Lisa Sammaritano (from HSS in NYC) have published an impressive overview of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in JAMA. This timely, well-written review covers the many complexities of this multi-organ disorder that affects nearly 3.4 million people worldwide.

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ICYMI: Co-management of Psoriatic Disease

It is a common clinical scenario to see someone with both severe psoriatic arthritis and skin psoriasis. In an ideal world this would involve a combined clinic with our local friendly dermatologist. For many of us, however, this is not practical for many reasons. The excellent Saturday morning

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337 PMR pts studied by FDG PET, followed 6 mos - 9% (31) had subclinical vasculitis (GCA) - 21 had isolated LG vessel - 3 isolated cranial vasculitis - 7 both cranial & LG vessel vasculitis. Steroid use higher w/ subclinical vasculitis, but not relapse https://t.co/uwXf4ucVnQ https://t.co/AOacTnQZaS
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