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RheumNow Podcast – Lupus Delights (9.18.20)
Dr Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com:
Read ArticleCOVID-19 Risks in Pregnant Women
There has been little science or evidence regarding the effects of COVID-19 infection on pregnancy and vice versa; and now the recent MMWR addresses the subject with two new reports
Read ArticleMethotrexate-Pegloticase Combination in Refractory Gout - MIRROR Study
The MIRROR study, an open-label pilot trial in refractory, uncontrolled gout patients, showed that pegloticase given in combination with methotrexate was safe and effective and maintained responses for 6 months after initiation.
Read ArticleBelimumab Effective in Lupus Nephritis
Dr. Rich Furie has lead a group of investIgators in reporting the significant efficacy of intravenous belimumab when added to standard of care induction therapy in patients with active lupus nephritis. This phase 3, 2-year study included 448 systemic lupus erythematosus patients with biopsy proven lupus nephritis (class III or IV +/- V) patients who required induction therapy and have a UPCR ≥1 g/g.
Read ArticleHas the Risk of Hip Fracture Changed over Time?
Data from the Framingham Heart Study has shown that hip fracture incidence has decreased over time, probably resulting from improved lifestyle changes (less smoking and heavy drinking).
Read ArticleNSAIDs Shows No Advantage over CBT in Knee Osteoarthritis
JAMA Internal Medicine reports on a controlled clinical trial of knee osteoarthritis patients wherein meloxicam responses were not significantly or clinically superior to placebo or CBT (after placebo).
Read ArticleCapsaicin Injection Improves Knee OA Pain
Highly purified synthetic trans-capsaicin (CNTX‐4975) injected directly into the joint reduced pain in chronic knee osteoarthritis (OA), data from the open-label phase III VICTORY-3 trial showed.
Read ArticleMediterranean Diet May Reduce Risk of RA
Arthritis and Rheumatology reports that a Mediterranean diet (MD) is capable of reducing the high risk of RA among women who have smoked tobacco. The results stem from the E3N Study, a French prospective cohort study that collects dietary data on 98,995 women since 1990. An MD score was derived from standardized questionnaires.
Read ArticleUpdated List of Drugs Inducing Lupus
Drugs inducing lupus may account for nearly 30% of all subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) and up to 15% of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) cases. Moreover there are over 100 drugs capable of inducing drug-induced lupus erythematosus.
Read ArticleComorbidities Impact Disease Activity in Spondyloarthritis
An analysis of a large population-based cohort of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients shows that comorbidities are common and are associated with higher disease activity and higher levels of functional impairment.
Read ArticleACR 2020 Reproductive Guidelines - Lactation Guidance
In this third excerpt from the ACR guidelines on managing reproductive health issues in rheumatic disease patients, we present recommendations regarding the use of glucocorticoids and guidance on lactation and medication use post-partum.
Read ArticleACR 2020 Reproductive Guidelines - Medication Use with Pregnancy
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has published guidelines to manage reproductive health issues in rheumatic disease (RMD) patients before, during and after pregnancy.
Read ArticleACR 2020 Reproductive Guidelines - Contraception & Counseling
The American College of Rheumatology established a guidelines committee that consisted of both patients, rheumatologists and maternal-fetal health experts. After a a systematic review of the medical literature regarding contraception, assisted reproductive technology, fertility preservation, hormone replacement therapy pregnancy, lactation, and medication use in rheumatic disease patients, they published 12 good practice statements and 131 recommendations for reproductive health care in RMD patients.
Read ArticleRheumNow Podcast – To Celiac Test or Not? (9.4.20)
Dr Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and takes a few Back Talk questions this week:
Read ArticleInsights into Antinuclear Antibodies in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Pisetsky and Lipsky have reviewed the evolving literature on the utility of antinuclear antibodies (ANA). ANAs generated as part of an autoimmune disorder may form immune complexes that mediate pathogenesis by tissue deposition or cytokine induction.
Read ArticleTreatment Options for Extraintestinal IBD
Extraintestinal manifestations (EIMs) frequently accompany inflammatory bowel disease, often augmenting morbidity and mortality are associated with disease activity and may increase the need for surgery or treatment escalation. A recent review in GUT details the treatment options for patients with EIM.
Read ArticleOlder Lupus Patients Can Stop HCQ Without Increasing Flare Risk
Since patients with SLE have longer life expectancies in the modern era, they may be at elevated risk for HCQ adverse events, including maculopathy and cardiomyopathy. Therefore, Peter M. Izmirly, MD, of New York University School of Medicine in New York City, and colleagues assessed whether older SLE patients could safely discontinue HCQ.
Read ArticleEarly Cardiovascular Benefits to DMARD Treatment in Rheumatoid Arthritis
ARD has published a report showing that patients with early rheumatoid arthritis have cardiovascular disease that is modifiable with conventional and aggressive therapy and that it did not matter if first line DMARD therapy was with a tumour necrosis factor-inhibitor or methotrexate.
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