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Musculoskeletal Complications of Hematologic Disorders Reviewed
Morais and colleagues have published an informative review of rheumatologic and musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders that may potentially befall those with benign or malignant blood disorders. It is important to be aware of these associations.
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GWAS Reveals Shared Susceptibility Locus Between RA and SLE
While the phenotypes of RA and SLE are quite different, genome-wide association studies (GWAS) performed in the past have shown a genetic overlap between both.
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Risk Factors for Bisphosphonate Bone Complications
Rare reports of bisphosphonate associated atypical femoral fractures (AFF) and osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) have raised concerns about the chronic use of bisphosphonates. The risk of AFF and ONJ was assessed in an analysis of the Swedish national database.
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Reports Call for More Gout Education
Two recent surveys show that gout patients are often uninformed, undertreated, improperly monitored and frequently stigmatized by their gout.
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Cochrane Reports Moderate Evidence Favoring Biologic Add-on Therapy
Singh and coworkers have assessed the value of adding a biologic to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients not responding to either methotrexate (MTX) or DMARDs. The results of their netowork metanalsysis is published as a Cochrane review wherein they examined a total of 90 RCTs (73 new) with 32
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Netrin-1 May Promote Lung Fibrosis in Scleroderma
Mechanisms underlying the pulmonary fibrosis of systemic sclerosis are poorly understood, yet are the focus of both research and new drug development.
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RheumNow Week in Review – 13 May 2016
Dr. Cush reviews highlights from this week on RheumNow.com.
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Secukinumab Improves Patient-Reported Outcomes in Psoriatic Arthritis (FUTURE 1)
Secukinumab (Cosentyx) has recently been approved for use in ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis; the latter largely based on the FUTURE 2 and the just reported FUTURE 1 clinical trial. FUTURE 1 demonstrates the efficacy and safety of secukinumab, with inital weekly intravenous loading, given monthly as a subcutaneous injection.
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Vasculitis Associated with Biologic Use
The widespread use of existing biologics has sometimes been associated with the paradoxical development of biologic-induced autoimmune phenomena, including vasculitis. A recent review of more than 200 vasculitis cases associated with biologic use has profiled the range of these unsual and rare events.
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JIA Women at Risk of Heart Disease
Women with a history of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) are more than twice as likely as those without this condition to be diagnosed with heart disease, according to the results of a new study.
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Generics Surge the Market
Generics are being approved at a record-setting pace. Thanks to the 2012 FDA Safety and Innovation Act, there are new funds generated by manufacturers' fees for drug applications to hasten the approval of generics. In 2015 alone, the FDA has approved 580 generic drugs – the highest number on record – while another 146 were granted tentative approval.
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Curbside Consults - May 2016
How would you manage rheumatoid arthritis patients with melanoma in situ, or high liver enzymes or interstitial lung disease? Curbside consults takes on these challenging therapeutic or safety issues with answers are based on experience, literature and guidelines.
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Scleroderma Digital Ulcers Fail to Respond to Endothelin Antagonist
Khanna and coworkers have published the results of the DUAL-1 and DUAL-2 clinical trials (sponsored by Actelion Pharmaceuticals) testing the efficacy macitentan in reducing the number of new digital ulcers in patients with systemic sclerosis.
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Moderate Alcohol Intake While on Methotrexate Appears Prudent
Research presented at the annual British Society for Rheumatology conference revealed that rheumatoid arthritis patients who drink moderately while taking methotrexate appear to be at no greater risk for liver damage than nondrinkers.
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faSScinate Study Shows Tocilizumab to be Effective in Systemic Sclerosis
The results of the faSScinate trial were published in Lancet showing that treatment with Actemra (tocilizumab) resulted in a reduction in skin thickness and an improvement in lung function in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc).
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The RheumNow Week in Review – 6 May 2016
Watch Dr. Cush discuss the highlights from this week on RheumNow.com.
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Risk of Steroid-Induced Diabetes Quantified
Glucocorticoid (or steroid) therapy is a well-known risk factor for diabetes. But what dose, given how and for how long? Dixon and colleagues from the The University of Manchester have quantified the risk of diabetes associated with steroid use.
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FDA REMS/Safety Panel Backs Educational Requirements for Opioid Prescribers
An advisory panel to the Food and Drug Administration met May 3rd and 4th to review whether the long-acting or extended release (ER/LA) opioid REMS programs approved in 2012 have had a meaningful effect on the opioid abuse problems noted nationwide. The FDA panel voted overwhelming
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Methotrexate Yields No Added Benefit in Etanercept Treated Psoriatic Arthritis Patients
Despite a paucity of clinical trial proof, methotrexate is often advocated or mandated to treat psoriatic arthritis. A recent comparison of clinical trials outcomes fails to show any added value when MTX is given to PsA patients taking etanercept.
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A Rheumatologist's Guide to Bariatric Surgery
Obesity is epidemic in North America, affecting nearly 76 million adults. Obesity is not only a risk factor for rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis, it clearly worsens pain and function in most musculoskeletal (MSK) conditions and has been shown to blunt DMARD and biologic resp
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