CV Risk Decreased with Certain DMARDs in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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A large prospective cohort study examined the comparative risks of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and found that, methotrexate (MTX), abatacept (ABA) and TNF inhibitor (TNFi) use were associated with a decreased risk of CV events. 

Tocilizumab Augmented Efficacy in COVID-19 Pneumonia with High CRP

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JAMA Internal Medicine report an analysis of recent and composite trial data suggesting that tocilizumab (TCZ) therapy in COVID-19–associated pneumonia patients with high CRP levels is likely to be effective.

Congress Slams AbbVie Over Price Hikes, 'Frivolous' Patents

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House lawmakers on both sides of the aisle pummeled AbbVie CEO Richard Gonzalez for raising the price of two widely used drugs and for the company's "legally questionable" tactics to head off competition from biosimilars, despite pulling in healthy profits.

Factors Associated with COVID-19 Deaths in Rheumatic Patients

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Analysis of data from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance shows that rheumatic diseases infected with COVID-19 had a greater risk of death with age, comorbidities, high disease activity and few specific therapies.

RheumNow Podcast – Myth Busters (5.21.2021)

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Dr Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com

Lower Rates of Serious Infection with Ustekinumab in Psoriatic Disease

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Patients with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis who were being treated with ustekinumab (Stelara) had lower rates of serious hospitalized infections than patients receiving other biologics or small molecule therapies, a study utilizing data from two commercial claims databases found.

Tocilizumab Risk of Diverticulitis and GI Perforation

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A French registry analysis compared the risk of diverticulitis and gastrointestinal perforation (GIP) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients treated with biologics and found a greater risk of both in patients receiving tocilizumab (TCZ) compared with those on rituximab (RTX) or abatacept (ABA

Total Ankle Arthroplasty vs. Arthodeisis?

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 The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery reports the findings of a 4-year trial comparing outcomes of total ankle arthroplasty (TAA) versus ankle arthrodesis (AA) in patients with severe ankle arthritis; finding that while both groups improved, TAA was associated with less pain and better function after 4 years.

Checkpoint Inhibitor Safety in Melanoma Patients with Autoimmune Disease

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Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) are well known to cause immune-related adverse events (irAEs). A study from the Dutch Melanoma Treatment Registry shows that the use of checkpoint inhibitors for advanced melanoma in AID (autoimmune disease) patients did not increase the risk of irAEs, except for those with preexisting IBD.

Severity Associated with Erosive Hand Osteoarthritis

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Erosive hand osteoarthritis (EHOA) was studied as part of the Osteoarthritis Initiative, and shown to increase with advanced age and female sex, with developmental findings to suggest that EHOA as a disorder of skeletal frailty.

IL-23 Inhibitor Tildrakizumab Effective in Psoriatic Arthritis

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Tildrakizumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-23p19 studied in adults with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), was found to be superior to placebo and well tolerated without reports of uveitis, systemic fungal infections, inflammatory bowel disease, major cardiac events or death. 

RheumNow Podcast – BandAids for Rheumatologists (5.14.2021)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com - a website for rheumatologists, by rheumatologists.

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RheumNow Live 2021 Now Available for All

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RheumNow Live (RNL) for 2021 was held March 20 - 21 in Fort Worth, TX, and now all can partake in the meeting - by video, podcast or by signing up for Tuesday Nite Rheumatology (TNR).

CDC: Fully Vaccinated Can Shed Masks and Resume Travel

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The U.S.

Risk Factors for Rheumatoid Arthritis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease

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Sparks and colleagues have published a matched cohort analysis demonstrating risk factors that may augment the risk of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD), especially the combination of obesity, high CRP, high MD-HAQ and >30 pack-year smoking h

NSAID Safety with COVID-19 Infection

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NSAIDs do not affect COVID outcomes; here we are nearly 16 months into the pandemic, and this is the common sense conclusion of a recent trial published in Lancet Rheumatology.

Insurers Bet Big on Bribing Patients

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Last month, psoriasis patients covered by Cigna received a curious letter from the insurance giant's pharmacy management division.

AURORA-1: Voclosporin Efficacy in Lupus Nephritis

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Lancet has published the results of the AURORA-1 trial, wherein the calcineurin inhibitor, voclosporin, was tested in a placebo controlled trial of lupus nephritis and shown to be effective at inducing a complete renal response.

FDA Advisors Split on Avacopan for Vasculitis

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Members of an FDA advisory panel were sharply divided as to whether avacopan, an oral small molecule inhibitor of the C5a receptor, was sufficiently safe and effective for treating antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis.

Higher Hydroxychloroquine Blood Levels Reduces Thrombosis Risk in Lupus

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Petri and colleagues have published that measuring hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) blood levels can be useful in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), as low levels are associated with an increased thrombotic risk in SLE.