Juvenile and Adult-onset Scleroderma Differ

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A retrospecitve cohort comparision of juvenile (jSSc) and adult-onset (aSSc) systemic sclerosis (SSc) are both rare but present differently.  

Disappointing Secondary Use of Newer Therapies in Psoriatic Arthritis

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Analysis of patient data from five Nordic registries shows that the uptake of newer biologic or targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was mainly in biologic-experienced patients.

2022 EULAR Recommendations on Screening and Prophylaxis for Opportunistic Infections

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Opportunistic and chronic infections may be rare and are often difficult to diagnose, especially in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD), that may be immunocompromised.

Low Risk of Venous Thromboembolism with IVIG and Dermatomyositis

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A cohort study analyzed the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in dermatomyositis (DM) patients treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

2010 Colchicine Price Hikes Adversely Affected Gout Care

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Researchers from Harvard have reported their analysis showing that the large increase in colchicine cost in 2010 was associated with an immediate decrease in colchicine prescription use, with a 10 year increase in emergency department and rheumatology gout visits suggesting poorer gout control.

B-Cell Stimulating Factors Tied to Lymphoma in Sjogren's

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Genetic blood tests indicated that Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) and a cytokine called APRIL were overexpressed in patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome who subsequently developed lymphoma, French researchers reported, suggesting that BTK inhibitors might be useful in this population.

ICYMI: Psoriatic Arthritis and Pregnancy

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Dr. Christina Chambers, an epidemiologist at the University of California San Diego and the principal investigator of MotherToBaby Pregnancy Studies, reviewed the available data on psoriatic arthritis and pregnancy. There is little evidence at this time that pregnancy affects PsA, though studies reliably demonstrate increase in disease activity in the post-partum period in both skin and joint disease.

One in Ten has Autoimmune Disease

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A UK population-based study suggests that autoimmune diseases affect approximately one in ten individuals.

Prevalence and Mortality of IgG4-related disease in the USA

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A current review of the epidemiology of IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) in the USA shows a low prevalence with possibly increasing numbers, owing to increasing awareness of this unique immune-mediated condition.

Lupus During Pregnancy Carries Higher Maternal, Fetal Morbidity Risks

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Women with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) had higher risks for maternal and fetal morbidity compared to those without the chronic autoimmune disorder, according to a nationwide analysis of U.S. data.

PJP Prophylaxis Needed with Steroids and Rituximab

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Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP) can be a life-threatening infection in immunocompromised patients. The 2023 EULAR Vasculitis guidelines recommends primary prophylaxis with antibiotics, especially in rheumatic disease patients receiving rituximab (RTX).

National Population Insights (4.28.2023)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports and addresses 3 viewer case questions.

25 Great Women in Rheumatology

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This week I reached out to many leaders in rheumatology and asked: who are the great women in rheumatology who should be recognized? This was prompted by a smart article in Annals of Rheumatic Disease written by Drs. Tuhina Neogi (Boston) and Nicola Dalbeth (N. Zealand), entitled "Where are the women ‘Heroes and Pillars of Rheumatology’?

Denosumab Reduces Type II Diabetes Risk

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The British Medical Journal has publish a matched cohort analysis demonstrating that adults receiving denosumab had a lower risk of incident type 2 diabetes (NIDDM) compared with those taking oral bisphosphonates for osteoporosis.

A Rising Gout Risk in Asians

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Two independent data sets suggests the prevalence of gout among Asians has grown such that this sub-population has numerically surpassed all other racial and ethnic groups by 2018.

NY Times on Arthritis Prevention

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A reader question ("Ask Well") to the New York times wonders "is arthritis avoidable"?

A recent survey suggests that up to 60% of adults have been told by an HCP they had some form of arthritis.