JAK inhibitors have become enormously popular and while their side effect profile has been delineated and reviewed, little mention is made of acne – an adverse event that may affect up to one-quarter of patients taking JAK inhibitors (JAKi).

The British Society of Rheumatology (BSR) has published evidence-based guidelines for idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) affecting juvenile and adult-onset disease. This rare condition has an estimated prevalence of 5-15 per 100,000 persons.

Analysis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register shows that, even after failing three or more biologic or targeted synthetic DMARDs (b/tsDMARDs), patients may continue to benefit from repeated trials of unused b/tsDMARDs. 

Disability claims in the U.S. related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were just as common in 2015 as in 1999, a government researcher found, against expectations that the advent of biologic therapy would have led to a steady decrease.

Abbvie has announced the US Food and Drug Administration has approved upadacitinib (Rinvoq or UPA) for use in adults with active ankylosing spondylitis, who have not responded or been intolerant of one or more TNF blockers. The recommended dose is 15 mg per day.

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports and takes viewer questions this week.

While tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) have been shown to alter/retard X-ray outcomes in peripheral inflammatory arthritis, the inhibitor effects of TNFi on axial skeletal progression in spondylitis has been difficult to prove, owing to difficulties in study design, identifying best cohorts and a presumed slower rate of change in the spine. 

The efficacy of ultrasound guided intra-articular hip injection of corticosteroid in adult hip osteoarthritis (HOA) was shown to be effective when added to conventional current treatment. But was this a clinically meaningful outcome?

Playback now available! Watch our Tuesday Nite Rheumatology, held April 26th, 2022, which featured a Journal Club panel discussion  about two important studies.

Mayo Clinic Proceedings reports the results of a retrospective, cross-sectional of patients with HFE hemochromatosis showing that advanced hepatic fibrosis is primarily seen in those with arthritis due to HFE hemochromatosis. 

Dr. Jack Cush discusses the news and recent journal reports from last weeks RheumNow.com, and answers viewer questions from #ACA - Ask Cush Anything.

Putman et al has reported vaccine survey results from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (C19-GRA) in Lancet Rheumatology showing the uptake and vaccine hesitancy among people with rheumatic diseases (RMD).

Survey data from 7005 vaccinated and unvaccinated, adult RMD respondents from 102 countries was analyzed.

A single dose of the monoclonal-antibody AZD7442 (combination of tixagevimab and cilgavimab) has been shown to be safe and effective as prophylaxis against COVID-19 infection in high risk individuals who tested positive for COVID-19. 

Held on April 19, 2022, Tuesday Night Rheumatology: Controversies in PsA, featured a lively and informative panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Jack Cush.

The PsA Expert panelists included:

Patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) got more bang for their exercise buck in a randomized trial when they had good opinions about their workout program, with better persistence with exercise at 1 year relative to a control group, researchers said.