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Targeting the Wnt Pathway Fails in OA
The Wnt pathway modulator lorecivivint failed to meet the primary endpoint in a phase IIa study for knee osteoarthritis (OA), but showed promise in certain patient subgroups, researchers reported.
Read ArticleTNR Grand Rounds - Cytokine Storm Syndromes
This week's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology featured Dr Randy Cron from the University of Alabama - Birmingham as he spoke and took questions on the immunology, immunopathogenesis and treatment of Cytokine Storm Syndrome, especially as they relate to COVID-19 and rheumatic disease patients. The program was moderated by Dr. Jack Cush.
Read ArticleHydroxychloroquine Improves Survival in Lupus
Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has dominated the news in recent weeks, because of poor outcomes reported when used in COVID patients. Yet, a recent report reaffirms what rheumatologists have known for years - that HCQ use is associated with better outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus, including survival.
Read ArticleLow Risk of COVID-19 Pneumonia in Rheumatic Patients
A current letter in the Annals of Rheumatic Disease details the rheumatic disease patient cohort outcomes from the University of Siena, Italy showing only 2 cases of COVID-19 among 859 patients treated with tsDMARDs and bDMARDs.
Read ArticleAgain, Antimalarial Use Fails to Benefit COVID
Today Lancet reported the results of another retrospective trial showing that hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, alone or with a macrolide antibioitic, offered no additional benefits to COVID-19 patients, but was associated with higher rates of mortality and arrhythmia.
Read ArticleOutcomes of Critically-Ill COVID Patients in NYC
Lancet has reported COVID outcomes from NewYork-Presbyterian hospitals in NYC during March 2020 showing high rates of hospitalization, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation and death.
Read ArticleNo Certain Link between Biologics and Melanoma Risk
A review of available data fails to show an increased risk of melanoma in IMID (inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis) patients treated with systemic biologic therapies.
Read ArticleAnti-TNF and CNS Events: The Link Strengthens
Patients with autoimmune diseases who were treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors had an increased risk of developing inflammatory central nervous system (CNS) adverse events, a nested case-control study found.
Read ArticleTNR - COVID-Rheumatology Registry & COVID in OZ
This week's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology features presentations and interviews with Drs. Peter Nash and Philip Robinson. Dr. Robinson presents latest data on the Rheum-Covid.org Registry, that he helped establish under the Global Rheumatology Alliance. Dr. Nash presents the impact of COVID in Australia and pragmatic COVID management.
Read ArticleSystemic Sclerosis Future Therapies and Outcome Measures
Nagaraja, Khanna and colleagues have published an overview of current and future therapies in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and have reviewed the potential outcome measures for this difficult autoimmune disorder.
Read ArticleThe Nine Lives of Hydroxychloroquine (Updated)
Hydroxychloroquine is one of many medications frequently used in rheumatology practice. Its remarkable versatility is attested by its routine use in lupus, in patients with an autoimmune coagulopathy, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as well as in those with a low-level inflammatory arthropathy.
Read ArticleRheumNow Podcast - COVID Kids and Men (5.15.20)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
Read ArticleCDC on Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome
The latest hazardous spinoff to the coronavirus infection is an inflammatory, Kawasaki-like syndrome unique to children or adolescents with COVID-19. Sporadic reports from around the globe of this severe pediatric COVID syndrome have littered the news with brief mentions and little detail.
Read ArticleKids' COVID-Linked Ailment Is Not Your Typical Kawasaki Disease
As data continue to emerge about a multi-system inflammatory disorder in children apparently connected to COVID-19, evidence is growing that this is not your typical Kawasaki disease.
Read ArticlePlaquenil Does Not Protect Lupus Patients from COVID-19
Annals of Rheumatic Disease reports on an analysis of lupus (SLE) patients that shows COVID-19 infection rates were similar between those lupus patients who were taking hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and those not taking HCQ.
Read ArticleTNR Grand Rounds - What does COVID-19 have to do with Lupus?
Last night's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology featured Dr. Joan Merrill (OMRF). In her lecture, "What does COVID-19 have to do with lupus?", she discusses the pathogenesis of lupus, and specifically thrombotic microangiopathy, complementopathies, catastrophic lupus syndrome and the potential overlap with the vascular pathology seen with COVID-19 infection.
Read ArticleNew ACR Guidelines for Gout Management
The ACR has published the 2020 guidelines on the management of gout that includes strong recommendations favoring treat‐to‐target management and starting urate lowering therapy (ULT) for patients with frequent flares, radiographic damage or tophi due to gout.
Read ArticleSecukinumab Better than Adalimumab - Maybe?
The EXCEED study was a head-to-head trial of secukinumab (SEC) versus adalimumab (ADA) as first-line monotherapy in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients; this 52 week trial showed that while SEC failed to achieve clinical superiority over ADA, SEC treated patients demonstrated higher
Read ArticlePhysical Activity Prevents Hospitalization
Modifiable lifestyle choices can impact long term health. A recent study shows that usual and increased physical activity can results in less hospitalization amongst the the general population.
Read ArticleTNR Grand Rounds: IL-6 in Health and Disease
Dr. Len Calabrese from the Cleveland Clinic delivers this week's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology Grand Rounds, entitled "IL-6 in Health and Disease: Where Rheumatology Meets COVID-19".
Dr. Calabrese provides a comprehensive review of IL-6 biology, and discusses IL-6 signaling, IL-6 roles in health, exercise, infection, innate and adaptive immunity as pertains to both rheumatology and the management of coronavirus infection.


