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Severity of Lupus Nephritis is Declining over Time
A retrospective follow-up study of 499 lupus nephritis (LN) patients over three successive eras shows that LN has become less severe in recent years and thus, better long-term survival is possible.
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Bisphosphonate Drug Holidays May Result in Fractures
A report in Endocrine Practice shows that drug holidays from bisphosphonates results in a 15% risk of fractures. (Citation source:
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The RheumNow Week in Review – Why Comorbidity is Like the Weather (5.3.18)
Dr. Jack Cush discusses the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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Targeting IL-17A: A Winner in PsA
Psoriatic arthritis patients with inadequate response to tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors had improvements in their arthritis and psoriasis when treated with the interleukin (IL)-17A blocker ixekizumab (Taltz), according to a phase III study presented here at the
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Fish Oil Fails in Dry Eye Trial
Many topical and OTC products are recommended when treating chronic dry eyes, including omega-3 fatty acids (fish oil or n−3 fatty acids) to relieve symptoms; the NEJM reports that the DREAM trial shows no clinical benefit of n−3 fatty acids for 12 months when compared to placebo.
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Genetic Breakthrough in Systemic JIA
The identification of a genetic susceptibility locus for systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) has important implications for treatment of this severe, poorly understood illness, researchers reported.
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Comorbidities Undermine Clinical Outcomes in Psoriatic Arthritis
Analysis of data from the DANBIO registry of psoriatic arthritis patients treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor therapy shows that comorbidities were associated with higher baseline disease activity, shorter TNFi persistence, and reduced clinical response rates to TNFi.
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Severe Obesity Worsens Disability in Rheumatoid Arthritis
A study from the Veterans Affairs clinics and the National Data Bank of Rheumatic Diseases shows that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who were severely obese had a greater risk of progressive disability compared to overweight patients; that was not explained by their arthritis or inflammation.
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The RheumNow Week in Review – FDA Showdown for Baricitinib (4.27.18)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and FDA proceedings from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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FDA Advisors Weigh COX-2 Inhibitor Safety
Should celecoxib (Celebrex) be officially declared as no riskier for the heart than other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) naproxen and ibuprofen, and do those other NSAIDs interfere with aspirin for cardiovascular prevention?
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Fixed and Tailored Rituximab Regimens Equal in ANCA Associated Vasculitis
The French Vasculitis Study Group has published the results of the MAINRITSAN2 trial designed to compare individually tailored versus fixed-schedule rituximab (RTX) reinfusion for remission maintenance in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasm antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides (AAVs).
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FDA Arthritis Panel Split on the Efficacy and Safety of Baricitinib in RA
On Monday, April 23rd the FDA convened the Arthritis Advisory Committee (AAC) to evaluate Lilly’s resubmitted NDA for the approval of the JAK inhibitor baricitinib for use in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
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Lupus Subgroup Responds to Anti-CD22
The monoclonal antibody epratuzumab showed promise as a B-cell depleting agent in patients with concomitant systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Sjogren's syndrome, a post-hoc analysis of two phase III trials found.
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FDA Review: Take Two for Baricitinib
FDA staff remain worried about the safety of baricitinib, an oral JAK inhibitor intended for treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, according to briefing documents prepared for an advisory committee meeting on Monday.
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Will Aspirin Cotherapy Undermine Celecoxib’s Safety Effects?
The PRECISION study took 11 years and 24,081 patients (90% OA; 10% RA).
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The RheumNow Week in Review – Vitamin D Snark Report (4.20.18)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. A second life for Syk kinase, Vitamin D talk, VTE, regulatory hearings and the Lupus clinic edge.
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NSAIDs and Acetaminophen Preferred Over Opioids for Dental Pain
A systematic review in the Journal of the American Dental Association evaluated the safety and efficacy of analgesics and foundp opioids less effective than nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) alone or in combination with acetaminophen when treating dental pain.
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USPSTF Recommendations on Vitamin D, Calcium Supplementation to Prevent Fractures
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) concludes current scientific evidence is insufficient regarding the use of vitamin D and calcium, alone or in combination, to prevent fractures in men and premenopausal women. The USPSTF recommends against daily supplementation with 400 IU or less of vitamin D and 1,000 mg or less of calcium to prevent fractures in postmenopausal women. Current scientific evidence is insufficient regarding the use of vitamin D and calcium at doses greater than 400 IU of vitamin D and greater than 1,000 mg of calcium in postmenopausal women.
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Kineret Approved for Still's Disease in EU
SOBI has announced that Kineret (anakinra) has been approved by the European Commission (EC) for the treatment of Still’s disease (Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis [SJIA] and Adult-Onset Still’s Disease [AOSD]), in all 28 European Union (EU) member states.
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EMA to Review Methotrexate Overdose and Dosing Errors
A recent meeting (April 9-12) of the European Medicines Agency’s (EMA) Pharmacovigilance Risk Assessment Committee (PRAC) considered the problem of dosing errors with methotrexate (MTX), citing "continued reports of overdose."
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