EULAR 2016 Recommendations on Early Arthritis

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Combe and leading European rheumatologist have published an update to the 2007 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for management of early arthritis.

Lupus May Be at Increased Risk for Dementia

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Neuropsychiatric manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may occur in up to half of patients in their lifetime.

However, dementia is often not reported or studied in cohorts with neurologic disease in lupus. 

Supreme Court Declines Biosimilar Patent Dispute

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The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear a case over whether companies that make biosimilar drugs must wait six months after federal approval before they bring them to the market.

Random Drug Levels and Anti-Drug Antibodies Predict Rheumatoid Outcomes

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Researchers from Manchester, UK have reported the results of their BRAGGSS study showing that certolizumab (CZP) random drug levels and anti-drug antibody (ADAbs) levels can predict optimal outcomes in CZP treated rheumatoid arthritis patients. 

CDC Report on Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco

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Combustible and smokeless tobacco use causes adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and multiple types of cancer. Cigarette consumption in the United States has declined overall since the 1960s, but consumption of other tobacco products has not.

Rituximab May Reduce Mortality Risk in Rheumatoid Lung Disease

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While it is known that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with interstitial lung involvement is associated with severe seropositive disease and is associated with an increased mortality.

RheumNow Week in Review – 9 December 2016

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights from this week on RheumNow.com.

CanVasc Recommendations for ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

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ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV) has undergone considerable study and advances in the last few years.

Herpes Zoster and GCA – What’s the Deal?

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In November I reported on an abstract presented at ACR by Muratore, et al. who looked for evidence of VZV infection in temporal artery biopsies of GCA patients and found none.

Nonsignificant CV Risk with Actemra vs Enbrel

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WASHINGTON -- Rheumatoid arthritis is a recognized risk factor for heart attacks and stroke, but a study comparing two leading biologics found only a non-significant increase in relative risk for patients treated with toclizimab (Actemra) vs etanercept (Enbrel), researchers reported here.

Physicians Still Over-Prescribe Antibiotics, Narcotics and Opioids

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A study by the American College of Physicians (ACP) found that physicians continue to prescribe treatments that offer little benefit to patients, despite the advice of clinical guidelines.

Key Lessons from the TNF Inhibitor Head-to-Head EXXELERATE Study

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The EXXELERATE study is featured prominently in Lancet this week. In some ways, this represents a landmark negative trial that rheumatologists should review and be aware of.

Is ABT-494 the Next JAK Inhibitor?

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Tofacitinib may well be joined by a new once daily JAK inhibitor, baricitinib in the next few months.

The RheumNow Week in Review – 2 December 2016

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Dr. Cush highlights reports from this week on RheumNow.com.

CURES Act : House Passes Largest Bill Since Obamacare

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The 21st Century Cures Act has become one of the most-lobbied health care bills in recent history, with nearly a half billion dollars being spent on both sides - those for and against the bill.

Statins for the Treatment of Osteoporosis

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ASDAS Activity Correlates with Xray Progression in Spondyloarthritis

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Investigators analyzed a prospective study of patients with early axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) to assess predictors of outcome.

Rheumatologist Compensation and Manpower

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You should use this information to not only fend for yourself, but to more accurately guide trainees into a richly rewarding specialty that pays well and has many distinctions to boast of, including high science, hands-on patient interactions and long-term relationships, great hours, lifestyle and family friendly careers. Our field is in desperate need of high quality, problem-solving practitioners.

MACRA: Not Just an Acronym Inside an Acronym

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Education on MACRA is the key to successful survival. The important take home points noted in Dr. Will Harvey’s lecture at ACR 2016 (session title: Holy MACRA! How to Survive and Thrive in the New Era of MACRA, MIPS, and APMs) are stated below.

Herpes Zoster and Giant Cell Arteritis

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The potential association of herpes zoster with giant cell arteritis (GCA) has been a debated topic and certainly has gotten some attention at ACR 2016 this year.