RheumNow Week in Review – 2 September 2016 Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights from this week in RheumNow:

1. Amgen releases results of 12 mo RCT of denosumab vs risedronate in steroid Rx pts - Prolia had twice increase in BMD https://t.co/Et8jj40Keg
2. FDA adds "Boxed Warning" to opiates & benzodiazepines (n=389) listing sleepiness, respiratory depression, coma and death https://t.co/olfszGus6S
3. In the Last 10 yrs in Ireland, hospitalizations and surgery for RA were cut half, MTX use tripled and TNFi prescriptions were up 4900%. https://t.co/KUVhvqxgsc https://t.co/lc46pEHKZ5
4. Canadian data same as US; #RA hosp. cut in half while #Gout hospitalizations have doubled https://t.co/qVnEAvN538 https://t.co/KFOpKxEPd3
5. RA Care costs unchanged from 1998 to 2006. Outpt increased, hosp. decreased, Drug cost higher, but fewer sick days https://t.co/G1UkMk5S56
6. Drug retention rates are same between elderly and younger RA pts on TNFi. D/C for AE in old and efficacy in young. https://t.co/ZPXlXvVpTS
7. Dr. Langford: VTE is increased risk with active GPA, MPA or EGPA. However no current evidence attesting to need for automatic anticoagulation.
8. Bactrim prophylaxis against pneumocystis should be given to all AAV pts during induction while receiving CTX or RTX therapy
9. Dr. Langford: Bactrim (TMP/SMX) may be used for isolated upper airway disease; never used alone for severe GPA disease (eg, glomerulonephritis)
10. Dr. Langford: after remission (w/ CTX or RTX), RTX can be used for maintenance w/ low risk of relapse
11. Dr Carol Langford Gr Rounds - ANCA levels do NOT correlate well with disease activity and should not be used to guide therapy
12. Flares Portend Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis - Time for a New Strategy?
13. Cost of Osteoporosis Care in the USA 
14. FDA Approves Updated Denosumab Warnings 
15. Nailfold Capillaroscopy Excludes Scleroderma in Raynaud’s.