All News
TNR: Early RA - Referrals and Treatment
This Tuesday Night Rheumatology was an hour long panel discussion featuring Drs. Jack Cush, Vivian Bykerk, Glen Hazelwood and Martin J. Bergman.
The Panel discussed Rheumatologists views on Early RA referral and intake, initial treatment preferences and views on diagnosing and treating pre-clinical RA.
FDA Approves Canakinumab for Gout Flares
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved canakinumab (Ilaris) for the treatment of gout flares in adults who cannot be treated with NSAIDs, colchicine, or repeated courses of corticosteroids. The drug is also indicated for people who could not tolerate or had an inadequate response to NSAIDs or colchicine.
Read Article
2023 ACR/EULAR Antiphospholipid Syndrome Classification Criteria
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and EULAR have combined efforts to establish an international multidisciplinary Steering Committee to develop classification criteria for the new antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) to be applied in observational studies and clinical trials.
Read Article
Cardiovascular Disease Precedes ANCA-associated Vasculitis
A nested case–control study from the Danish Nationwide Registries finds an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) disease in the months preceding diagnosis of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV).
Read Article
Glucocorticoid Affects Weight, but not Blood Pressure in RA
A pooled analysis of 5 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) shows that the effects of 2 years of low-dose glucocorticoid (GC) treatment in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can significantly increase increase body weight, but not blood pressure.
Read Article
Pizza and Rheumatoid Arthritis (8.11.2023)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the wonderful wide world of Rheumatology. This week:
Read Article
Colchicine or Prednisone in CPPD?
The COLCHICORT trial in patients with acute calcium pyrophosphate crystal arthritis (CPPD) demonstrated equivalent efficacy for both colchicine and prednisone, yet different safety signals were seen.
Read Article
Steroid Tapering Called Safe in Older RA Patients
Most rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients 65 and older who had 5 mg/day of prednisolone added to standard care were successfully weaned from the steroid without seeing substantial increases in disease activity, researchers said.
Read Article
English for the Biologically-Challenged (8.4.2023)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week highlights Veterans, Vegetarians and Antenatal Corticosteroids.
Read Article
Antenatal Corticosteroids and Serious Infection in Offspring
A claims data study shows that maternal use of antenatal corticosteroids may be associated with an increased risk of serious infection in the offspring's first 12 months.
Read Article
Bifunctional B-cell Targeted Therapy in IgG4-related Disease
A novel B-cell depletion trial, using obexelimab (a bifunctional, monoclonal antibody that binds CD19 and Fc gamma receptor IIb), has shown efficacy and safety in patients with active IgG4-related disease.
Read Article
Links:
Tofacitinib in Polymyalgia Rheumatica (EAST PMR Study)
An open-label, uncontrolled pilot trial has shown that JAK signaling is involved in the pathogenesis of PMR and that tofacitinib is as effective as glucocorticoids (GC) in patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).
Read Article
EULAR/ACR Guidance on Haemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis/Macrophage Activation Syndrome
A EULAR/American College of Rheumatology task force has established evidence based, up-to-date guidance and expert opinion on the evaluation, management and monitoring of patients with Haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) and macrophage activation syndrome (MAS), with the primary intent to halt disease progression and prevent life-threatening complications from HLH/MAS.
Read Article
Infectious Risk with B Cell Therapies in Lupus
A UK registry study of moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients showed that treatment with rituximab or belimumab was not associated with a greater risk of serious infection, when compared to standard of care therapy.
Read Article
Links:
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
ANCA-associated vasculitis: beyond therapy with rituximab?
Following the success of Phase 3 randomised controlled trials of non-renal and renal vasculitis, therapy with rituximab has tremendously improved the outcomes of AAV patients. However, some patients are unable to taper their glucocorticoids during rituximab therapy while others appear to be refractory to therapy, particularly those with EGPA. Hence, what are other current or future approaches beyond rituximab?
Read Article
