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Outcomes of Systemic Sclerosis Hospitalization
A study of inpatient systemic sclerosis (SSc) hospitalizations using the 2012–13 National Inpatient Sample database finds an inpatient mortality rate of 5%, and that infection was the most common cause of SSc hospitalizations and in-hospital death.
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IL-12 and IL-23 Promote Giant Cell Arteritis
It has been postulated that TH1 and TH17 pathways are implicated in the pathogenesis of giant cell arteritis (GCA); this is supported by new research showing that interleukin 12 (IL-12) and interleukin 23 (IL-23) may stimulate inflammatory and proliferative pathways relevant to the path
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Physician Conflicts Overlooked by Physicians
An analysis of Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Open Payments Database (OPD) shows a high level of inconsistency for physician self-declared conflicts of interest amongst physicians receiving the highest industry payments.
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Dietary Recommendations for Psoriatic Disease
A systematic review by the Medical Board of the National Psoriasis Foundation examined the role of diet in managing adult patients with psoriasis and/or psoriatic arthritis and suggest that dietary interventions to reduce disease severity.
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Health Secretary Azar Eyes Rebate Reform
Reuters reports that the U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar had declared his agency has the authority to eliminate rebates on prescription drug purchases, a key element in the administration’s plan to lower prescription medicine costs.
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ACR Meets With HHS Secretary Azar to Discuss Step Therapy Concerns
Yesterday, the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) met with U.S.
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The RheumNow Week in Review – We’re Number One! (8.17.18)
Dr. Cush reviews the articles and news from the last week on RheumNow.com. Information on comorbidities, the downside of steroids, unmet need in psoriatic arthritis, and the top 10 rheumatology programs.
Read ArticleEarly Exposure to Passive Smoke May Up Risk for RA Later in Life
Exposure to second-hand smoke during childhood was associated with an increased risk for developing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) later in life, researchers said.
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Managing Comorbidity and Poor Drug Responses
Comorbidity is pervasive and complicates medical care in general. It can be a by-product of aging. It may result from drug therapy or an inciting disease process and may be part of the constellation that defines the primary disorder. A growing body of evidence that suggests that comorbidity has a significant dampening effect on drug responsiveness and, adds to poorer outcomes in patients with inflammatory arthritis.
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Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors Do Not Increase the Risk of Cancer Recurrence
There is a large body of data that shows tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) use in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) confers the same risk as that seen in RA - meaning there is no increase over and above that incurred by inflammation and RA itself. There are fewer studies about whether it is s
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Persistent Osteoporosis Drug Use Pays Off
Among elderly female Medicare patients, persistent use of osteoporosis medications was associated with reduced risk of fracture and significantly lower total health care costs.
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U.S. News 2018-19 Rheumatology Rankings
The Annual U.S. News and World Report Rankings of Hospitals has listed the top contenders in the field of rheumatology. The U.S. News Review rates hospitals nationwide in 16 specialties – including rheumatology. Of the 4,500 hospitals covered by U.S.
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Success of Stopping Depends on the Biologic
The type of biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) being used and remission duration were important factors predicting whether remission was maintained among patients with rheumatoid arthritis after cessation of the biologic, a Japanese study found.
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Cardiovascular Benefits of Maintaining Biologic Therapy
An Australian prospective study of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ankylosing spondylitis (AS) has shown that sustained use of tumour necrosis factor (TNFi) inhibitors or biologics can reduce the risks of cardiovascular events (CVEs).
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The RheumNow Week in Review – No Good Gout (8.10.18)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and latest journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com. Info on Surgery and Hip Fractures, Gout drugs abandoned, Allopurinol escalation, hydroxychloroquine drug levels, how to treat scleroderma in India and exactly who gets back pain.
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Fractures Augment 10 Year Mortality Risks
This nationwide study of adults (50+ yrs) from Denmark has shown that following a fragility fracture, the 10-years mortality risk was increased, especially in the first year following the fracture.
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Early Hip Fracture Surgery Reduces Mortality
CMAJ reports that seniors are more likely to survive a hip fracture if the surgery is done as soon as they’re admitted to the hospital - suggesting hospitals should expedite operating room access for patients whose surgery has already been delayed for nonmedical reasons.
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Dr. Roland Moskowitz (1929 - 2018)
Dr. Roland Moskowitz was a giant in the rheumatology world for decades, and one of a handful of researchers who doggedly rose to one of rheumatology's greatest challenge: osteoarthritis. He has passed away at the age 88 years.
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Selective Use of HLA-B*5801 Testing in Gout
The current edition of JAMA Internal Medicine describes an Asian gout patient who presents with an allopurinol hypersensitivity reaction that could have been diagnosed by testing for HLA-B*5801.
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Febuxostat (IR or XR) Effective in Gout with Renal Impairment
Saag and colleagues report the results of a 3 month phase III trial demonstrating equal efficacy between febuxostat extended release (XR) and immediate release (IR) formulations in patients with gout. and normal or impaired renal function.
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