The RheumNow Week in Review – Life Savers for Rheumatologists (6.29.18) Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews selected news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.

1. European Commission has approved XELJANZ® (tofacitinib citrate) 5 mg twice daily (BID) in combination with methotrexate (MTX) for the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) with an inadequate response to DMARDs https://t.co/G6YYXSuUyQ
2. Study of 14 EGPA pts shows mean age 12.3 yrs, All w/ Lung, upper airway (85%), skin (71%), GI tract (64%), heart (57%). CNS & renal Dz were rare. Only 31% ANCA+. Compared to adult, kids have more ENT, CV, & GI. https://t.co/v1wwrTUgsT 
3. MPO (myeloperoxidase) Abs(MPO-ANCA, pANCA) may be associated with a wider variety - GPA, EGPA, microscopic polyangiitis, Goodpastures, PAN, glomerulonephritis, lupus, interstitial lung dz, bronchiectasis, alveolar hemorrhage, RA, IBD, autoimmune liver dz https://t.co/cWb0UeOu0h 
4. TMP/SMX prophylaxis following rituximab in ANCA+ associated vasculitis reduces infections by 70% (HR 0.30) - 192 AAV pts with 92 infx in 49 pts (only 1 due to PJP). https://t.co/VmVDXQqlSZ 
5. Taiwan claims analysis of #RA patients shows that despite low rates (10-20%) of influenza vaccination, those vaccinated had a significant ~35% lower rate of death and hospitalization (sepsis, bacteremia, viremia) https://t.co/Y17d66AZnC
6. HCQ use in Lupus associated with 32% lower risk of all cause mortality at 1 yr. (a Taiwan claims data study of 2287 #SLE patients either on or off plaquenil) https://t.co/qt4nFcYCQw
7. The risk of psoriatic arthritis in psoriasis is 23.8% according to a systematic review and metanalysis in JAAD (using CASPAR criteria). The incidence of PsA in psoriasis ranged from 0.27-2.7/100PY https://t.co/tnw41vFQe3   
8. Study of 20,000+ patients receiving knee or hip replacements finds that, compared to OA, #RA patients have a high risk of post-op MI (HZ 3.54) and more revision surgeries (HZ 1.61)over 10 yrs https://t.co/YXH5FqHnr0 
9. Public Citizen Pressures FDA to Pull Febuxostat   
10. Ixekizumab Effective in Ankylosing Spondylitis