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Abuse of the Safety-Net 340B Drug Programs
Dr. Madelaine Feldman has written an important commentary on the 340B Drug Pricing Program, a safety-net program that would allow vulnerable populations to receive expensive new therapies. But she points out that "this well-intentioned program has strayed from its original purpose", allowing certain hospitals and for-profit pharmacies to exploit the program.
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ICYMI: JAKi in inflammatory myositis?
Abstract 1731 is a small RCT of baricitinib in inflammatory myositis comparing early start baricitinib to later start.
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Tocilizumab Efficacy in Giant Cell Arteritis Phenotypes
A Spanish Collaborative Group study of Tocilizumab (TCZ) in Giant Cell Arteritis (GCA) demonstrated high efficacy regardless of the different vascular phenotypes treated.
Biosimilars Do Impact Biologic Drug Costs
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MedPage Today
Introduction of biosimilars for the rheumatology drug adalimumab, whose original branded version Humira has long been a blockbuster, appears to have led to a dramatic drop in net spending for these products -- even though biosimilars barely dented Humira prescription rates.
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ICYMI: Sex related differences in PsA
Different factors are known to influence disease characteristics and outcomes in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
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Efficacy and Safety of Nipocalimab for Sjogren's Syndrome
Dr. Mike Putman reports on abstract 2527, Efficacy and Safety of Nipocalimab, an Anti-FcRn Monoclonal Antibody, in Primary Sjogren’s Disease: Results from a Phase 2, Multicenter, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled,… https://t.co/kkIOCUZRml https://t.co/nL47c5veCp
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Steroids do NOT hamper muscle Bx dx of ANCA vasculitis. Tokyo study of 126 pts w/ suspected vasculitis had Quad muscle Bx; 71 (+) w/ Dx of AAV. Bx yield in 56 and 15 pts w/ off or on steroids, respectively, was similar (59% vs 53%). https://t.co/Xpt01Wksd3 https://t.co/NSBclcEgwq
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Metanalysis of 41 studies, & 5343 AAV pts showed 55% (2890) had infection; 36% w/ severe infxn. This included PJP, aspergillosis, candidiasis, HZ, CMV, etc. Pulmonary most common. Risk factors included older, ESRD, DM, smoking, Renal or lung involvement https://t.co/4TtnP5wGc4 https://t.co/RatBXPUk7a
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Boosts Risk for Some Types of Heart Failure
Rates of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) were doubled in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) relative to other people of the same age and sex, researchers found.… https://t.co/t7GRp7c63x https://t.co/Ov6UwGlPko
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Japanese registry study of CV & CA outcomes in #RA. CV (MACE) events = IR 0.49/100 PY.
Cancer= IR 0.78/100PY. MACE risk factors: Male, age≥65, HTN, Renal or cerebrovascular Dz; CA risk w/ Male, age, NSAID, COPD, SIE, CA Hx. https://t.co/uBFbho25La https://t.co/3ClEwCvdDY
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1st MTX use in 242 Italian pts w/ chronic inflam arthritis (54% RA, 33% PsA, 16% UA). Overall, survival of MTX at 24 months was 60%, (40% @48 mos, 20% @96 mos). MTX survival in RA & PsA equal, but superior to UA (undiff. arthritis) https://t.co/g4pZpVmTnM https://t.co/gcKWriqfhG
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Serum IL-40 increased in RA (vs OA, SLE, Controls) and correlates with some clinical characteristics. IL-40 did not correlated w/ Dz activity, but was pos. assoc. w/ RA autoAbs, coagulation-related indicators, and decreased with TNFIi Rx. https://t.co/leBPKbNpf5 https://t.co/fHU8lcS4eW
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International Map of Axial SpA study surveyed 5557 axSpA pts (3231 Europe, 770 USA); mean 44 yrs old; 55% females. mean BASDAI was 5.4 (75% had active disease -BASDAI ≥4). Active Dz highest in S. Africa 87%, vs 68% in Asia. Active Dz assoc w/ active functional limitation,… https://t.co/j8CjuLHHjD https://t.co/tV9S3b7YCM
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Avacopan, a C5aR antagonist, for Rx of ANCA-Assoc GPA & MPA. Main warning for liver AE. In RCTs, abnl LFTs seen in 11.6-13.3% and 4.2% D/C drug for liver probs. Recent Japanese report of 22 AAV pts with AVACO Liver injury seen in 9 pts - Severe, incr total bilirubin in 4, 1 pt… https://t.co/LyuIQhwOoQ https://t.co/TAmQ9vph4V
Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
Although there is a bidirectional relationship betw pain and sleep, Sleep impairment more strongly predicts pain than pain does sleep. Addressing sleep disturbances is crucial, as it is linked to higher levels of disability, depression, pain-related catastrophizing.… https://t.co/pcFeCWSBCg https://t.co/0QlnbpKEbp
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CorEvitas registry study of 1823 psoriatic arthritis pts found that 11.1% fulfilled the fibromyalgia definition and 20.6% fulfilled the widespread pain definition. Factors assoc w/ FM: female, depression, anxiety, impaired function, BMI & #of comorbidities.… https://t.co/nDk8hPTlAu https://t.co/jnO5MijoGJ
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Safety of Acetaminophen in the Elderly
New research, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, has found that repeated doses of paracetamol in people aged 65 and over, can lead to an increased risk of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal complications.… https://t.co/rLchNTh6C8 https://t.co/y2DUx6TQR0
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Review of IgA Vasculitis (Henoch–Schönlein Purpura) - the freq of glomerulonephritis is higher in adults than children and tends to present more severely. Rx w/ 1st line steroids, Other agents: Colchicine, dapsone, MTX (Minor dz), CsA, tacrolimus, MMF (steroid sparing)… https://t.co/tB5fll3RfN https://t.co/knc7KesyRj
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Join us at RheumNow Live February 8 & 9 in Dallas, TX!
Our incredible meeting will feature speakers like:
Rheumatology Power Trio: Exploring RA Management in Older Adults, AI Innovations, and Multimorbidity Strategies
Una Makris, MD, MSc
Jeff Curtis, MD, MS, MPH
Bryant… https://t.co/570WrI6RHT https://t.co/TTGtcNmWx7
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2024 Match results are in - Rheumatology- 287 matched, 99%: Top 6:
1. Cardi 99.8%
2. Cardio EP 98%
3. Endocrinology 98.4 %
4. GI 99.6%
5. Heme/Onc 99.7%
6. Rheum 99% https://t.co/UYnXc13VvQ https://t.co/kAZ4GACXkL
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