No Rise in Cancer Risk with Actemra

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In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there was no increased risk for malignancy development seen with newly initiated tocilizumab (Actemra) treatment, an analysis of three U.S. insurance claim databases found.

CRA Position Statement on Medical Cannabis Use

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Courtesy of the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) website, here are consensus guidelines on medical cannabis use.

Rheumatology patients experience prevalent pain that is only modestly controlled with current treatment strategies.

RheumNow Podcast – You Owe Me a DEXA (3.15.19)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews this week's news and highlights from RheumNow.com.

Lower TNF Inhibitor Persistence in Spondylitis

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A claims data analysis shows that only one-third of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) therapy remain on their initial drug in the 2 years post initiation.

First Line IL-1 Inhibition in Systemic JIA

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First-line treatment of systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) with anakinra (Kineret) was highly effective as monotherapy, minimizing the need for glucocorticoids, a single-center prospective study found.

EULAR Consensus Guidelines for Juvenile Localized Scleroderma

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A EULAR international committee of 15 experts in pediatric rheumatology have established consensus-based recommendations for the management of juvenile localised scleroderma (JLS).

2018 Swedish Guidelines for Giant Cell Arteritis Treatment

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The Swedish Society of Rheumatology has developed evidence-based guidelines for the management of giant cell arteritis (GCA) with a focus on the appropriate use of corticosteroids and tocilizumab. 

Multiple Delays in Referral of New RA Patients

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A UK study of early onset arthritis or new rheumatoid arthritis patients shows multiple sources of delayed referral to the first rheumatology consultation.

Lower Mortality Results from Lower Activity in Lupus

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Data from the longitudinal Tromsø Lupus Cohort study has shown that lupus patients who achieve a Lupus Low Disease Activity State (LLDAS‐50) were shown to have significantly less severe damage, and a reduction in mortality.

This was a population‐based study of SLE patients in the northern‐most counties of Norway.

Dual IL-17 Inhibitor in Psoriasis Succeeds

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Patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis attained durable complete and near-complete responses for more than a year with a dual inhibitor of interleukin (IL)-17, data from a randomized trial showed. 

Medical Meetings: Should I Stay or Should I Go?

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Say a conference in your field was just announced. You think you "should" go, and you know you'll be choosing from many presentation opportunities that feature the latest research — which you want to know about. And you'll get to hang with like minds and talk about things that matter.

AAD/NPF Guidelines on Biologic Use in Psoriasis

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Menter and colleagues from the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) and National Psoriasis Foundation (NPF) have published their expert consensus guidelines for the use of biologics in psoriasis.

Early TNF inhibition in Early Psoriatic Arthritis

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A small, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in early psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has shown that first-line use of golimumab and methotrexate (MTX) is superior to MTX alone in inducing remission in PsA.

Senate Drills Drug Makers Over Price

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Reuters reported that today, the US Senate Finance Committee met to question the executives from seven US pharmaceutical companies on the rising price drugs in America. 

Canadian Vaccination Guidelines for the Immunosuppressed

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A multidisciplinary Canadian task force has developed guidelines for vaccination in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapies, based on the evidence that immunosuppressive use in immune-mediated disease may be  associated with an elevated risk of infections. 

FDA Slaps a Boxed Warning on Febuxostat for CV Risk

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed data from the Cardiovascular Safety of Febuxostat and Allopurinol in Patients with Gout and Cardiovascular Morbidities (CARES) trial and concluded there is an increased risk of death with Uloric (febuxostat) compared with allopurinol, and has added this as a boxed warning to the drug’s product label.

RheumNow Podcast - Death and Surgery (2-22-19)

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

Lupus Microbiome May Drive Disease Activity

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Silverman and colleagues have published their study of the fecal microbiome of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients and found roughly five times more gut bacteria known as Ruminococcus gnavus, and that these abnormalities in microbiota can correlate with measures of disease severity i

Impressive Survival of Interleukin-1 Inhibitors in Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

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The drug retention rate of interleukin-1 inhibitors (IL-1) used to treat systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) appears to be quite high according to a new study. 

Safety Warnings for Higher Dose Tofacitinib

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Pfizer has issued a press release regarding the safety of tofacitinib, citing higher rates of pulmonary embolism and death associated with the use of higher dose tofacitinib 10mg bid in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated in a long-term safety trial.