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No Link Between Autoimmune Diseases and Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance
Annals of Internal Medicine reports a study of more than 75,000 persons screened for monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) and found no association between autoimmune rheumatic disease (AIRD) and MGUS.
SLE Cost of Care and Disease Activity
A longitudinal, multinational study shows that SLE patients achieving remission or low disease activity incur lower overall direct/indirect (DCs, ICs) healthcare costs than those with persistent activity.
Upside/Downside of Steroids in Lupus Nephritis
A systematic review of randomized clinical trials of patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis (LN) demonstrates both the benefits and harms to early glucocorticoid (GC) regimens on lupus outcomes.
Insurance claims data studied 7580 newly Dx RA (2018-2020) - 1998 tofacitinib vs 5582 adalimumab. After propensity matching, dyslipidemia was signif. higher w/ TOFA (HR 1.25), BUT no differences in MACE (HR 0.995) or all-cause mortality (HR, 1.4; NS) https://t.co/ZJ7uHWTycS https://t.co/A6tSm4RipS
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Legal (Not So) Merry-Go-Round of Alendronate Atypical Fractures
Dr. Gregory Curfman, MD writes on the chronological legal progress of a lawsuit stemming from rare instances of atypical femoral fractures associated with bisphosphonate (alendronate) use.
https://t.co/6Ipvw7tcKr https://t.co/VNrMg88AsH
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Antacids can Diminish Bone Density
Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), a specific class of antacid drugs, are among the most widely used medications of all. They are frequently prescribed to many groups of patients, including those with rheumatism.
https://t.co/Ii8DlDgBx7 https://t.co/cWN7v7PiIf
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Retrospective 170 RA pts Rx w/ IFX, ADA, & CZP shows CZP levels didnt differ w/ low or HI RF; but high basel RF linked to lower IFX & ADA drug levels, W/O DAS28 differences, but more IFX/ADA D/C w/ Hi baseline RF levels (80% vs. 75% vs. 33% CZP, p=0.002) https://t.co/OVUcKAgJ5a https://t.co/kzWd8jHXs3
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Consensus Statements on Vitamin D
The “Controversies in Vitamin D” International Conference has published their proceedings on vitamin D metabolism, assessment, actions, and supplementation.
https://t.co/QGXbJdJpAC https://t.co/N1UkTi6u8C
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Small-molecule Drugs to Treat Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
A metanalysis of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on treatments of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), confirm the efficacy of several targeted small-molecule drugs.
https://t.co/O3Y3KBngau https://t.co/wiB1EMtMFK
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Interferons and Lupus Subsets
In a new study, researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine say they have uncovered insights as to the relationship between interferons and lupus, which affects up to 1.5 million Americans.
https://t.co/Eo8q3IGPb7 https://t.co/gVyHJwZFwc
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Risk Factors for Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy
A long-term hydroxychloroquine users study found that 2.7% developed retinopathy, and identified risk factors as increasing age, female sex, chronic kidney disease stage 3+ and tamoxifen use.
https://t.co/iC7eh0XLzE https://t.co/gDaWi4kt1h
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Metanalysis of 26 reports and 195 juvenile Dermatomyositis pts (age 4.9 yrs) treated w/ JAK inhib (tofa, rux, & bari); Good improvement in 90%, 69% & 93%, respectively. JAK indication refractory skin dz (35%) or muscle involvement (29%). TIME FOR RCTs!! https://t.co/Vtm2n9BWV1 https://t.co/1bXZokW1AO
Links:
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Review article of Interstitial Lung Dz Assoc w/ Systemic Sclerosis. SSc-ILD prevalence ranges 25-95%; ILD is a main cause of morbidity and mortality, contributing to 35% of deaths https://t.co/8mMFbDu4gi https://t.co/nQ4GfNcMWt
Links:
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Alot of murky "research" on Platelet-rich plasma (PRP). This RCT of120 pts having anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (half randomized to PRP) shows no PRP benefit, no significant improvement of knee symptoms & function post ACLR https://t.co/AwkCAq1QFb https://t.co/YP0hJd7soc
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Retrospective cohort study compared 5825 #AS pts vs 28,356 matched controls; showed an increased risk of pulmonary embolism w/ AS; not present pre-Dx ((0.4% vs 0.2%), but incr post-AS Dx (PE IR 11.6 vs 6.8/10KPY: adj HR 1.70;; p<0.001) https://t.co/wSkAMozvnL https://t.co/5Q470QkAxe
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K Kuhn et al: Altered tryptophan catabolism by microbiome may contribute to inflammatory arthritis. Tryptophan increases indole leading to ncreases in serum IL-6, TNF, and IL-1β; splenic RORγt+CD4+ T cells, & IL-23 and IL-17 production https://t.co/i9le12QZm2 https://t.co/akeXxWnQ9o
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Substitute Measures of Inflammation (many dervied from the CBC)
https://t.co/b2AuVERJQn https://t.co/QXZ8GthsMW
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My Cancelled Lecture Slides
Listen to last week's podcast for more context!
https://t.co/C3bm2psfxZ https://t.co/sjIgDiVKtK
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Infectious Mortality in ARD
Infectious conditions are a significant cause of mortality in ARD. Among patients hospitalized with an infection, we compared in-hospital and long-term (3-year) mortality between those with and without ARD.
https://t.co/p4n5Los89F https://t.co/vUBLC9TDDG
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Save the date! We’ll be covering #EULAR24! https://t.co/HGjP2SFyOp
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