A Big Leap in Modulating Rheumatoid Disease

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Intervention in individuals predisposed to develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with a holy grail of prevention of RA, has long been a hot topic. It is well known that seropositivity for rheumatoid factor and antibodies to cyclic citrullinated peptides (ACPA) can precede RA disease by many years. Many, but by no means all, patients also seem to go through a pre-RA arthalgia phase of varying duration characterised by the presence of increasing joint pain without frank arthritis.

Updates in Psoriatic Arthritis at EULAR 2022

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At EULAR 2022, I look forward to key topics and presentations in psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Here's a preview of nine studies I'm particularly interested in at this meeting.

EULAR 2022 Featured Industry Abstracts

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Below is a collection of several EULAR 2022 abstracts highlighted in recent press releases from companies sponsoring major clinical trials. You can search the EULAR site for these abstract and others here.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Associated Arthritis

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Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have dramatically improved outcomes in numerous cancers but have been hampered by a growing spectrum of immune-related adverse events (irAEs). Rheumatic complaints may be less frequent than other irAEs associated with ICI in cancer patients. 

Bridge Prednisone Use Fails to Improve Outcomes

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A one year, X-ray outcome trial has shown that the initial use of prednisone (high or low dose) in newly treated active early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) did not improve radiographic outcomes.

RNL 2022: Rheumatoid Arthritis - Best Management

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This week's Tuesday Night Rheumatology, hosted by Dr. Jack Cush, featured highlights from the 2022 RheumNow Live Rheumatoid Arthritis - Best Management Pod, followed by a lively audience Q & A. Lectures featured:

Recommendations – Good & Bad (5.27.2022)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, regulatory updates and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week gout worries, mortality risks, measuring anti-drug antibodies and a better way in lupus?

Cardiovascular Risk in Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease

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The cardiovascular (CV) risks of inflammation and gout are well known, but until recently hasn't been tied to calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease. A recent EHR study shows that acute CPPD crystal arthritis was significantly associated with elevated risks for non-fatal CV events.

Psoriasis and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

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A large US population based study shows that psoriasis is associated with a higher risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Is Gout Protective Against Dementia?

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People with gout appeared less likely to develop dementia than age- and sex-matched peers, a database study from Korea found.

Long COVID Manifestations

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The acute consequences of a SARS-CoV-2 infection may be bothersome or devastating, but the long-term consequences may lead to so-called "long COVID" syndrome.  Long COVID appears to affect up to 20% of those who survive COVID-19 infection. 

To TDM or Not in Rheumatology?

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Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM), especially for biologic therapies, has become a standard in gastroenterology, but shunned by most rheumatologists.

Can SGLT2 Inhibitors Be Protective in Lupus and Vasculitis?

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SGLT2 inhibitors are all the buzz in the renal world with reports of a renal protective and mortality lowering effects. Maybe these agents should be considered and studied in lupus nephritis and ANCA- associated vasculitis.

Biologic Persistence in Psoriatic Arthritis and Psoriasis

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Two recent studies examined the durability and persistence of biologic agents in patients with psoriasis (PSO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and while some differences were noted overall persistence was low 3 years later.

Relevance of Raynaud’s in Systemic Sclerosis

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Raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) is integral to the diagnosis and management of systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients; a recent analysis suggests that RP should be characterized based on color change and the presence of other symptoms to know whether RP portends more serious manifestations.

RNL 2022: Spondyloarthritis Spectrum

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This RheumNow Live 2022 session features highlights from lectures on Spondyloarthritis.

- Microbiome in Spondyloathritis - Jose Scher, MD

- Axial Psoriatic Arthritis - Philip Mease, MD

- Juvenile Spondyloathritis - Pamela Weiss, MD

Rising Incidence of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

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Data from Olmstead county, MN over the past four decades shows that the incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is increasing.

SLE was diagnosed using the EULAR/ACR criteria and looked at patients seen between 1976–2018.

Multimorbidity Burden in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Crowson and colleagues at the Mayo Clinic have shown that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have a higher prevalence of multimorbidity with as many as 44 different morbidities of interest in RA.