DMARD Success in Myositis-Related Interstitial Lung Disease

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It is estimated that up to 50% of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy will be complicated by interstitial lung disease, and having ILD may impart a poor prognosis. A recent review of the Johns Hopkins myositis-related ILD cohort has shown that azathioprine and mycophenolate mofetil use is associated improved lung function and less prednisone use.

Study Looks at Opioid Use After Knee Surgery

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A small study looked at whether reducing the number of opioid tablets prescribed after knee surgery would reduce postoperative use and if preoperative opioid-use education would reduce it even more

Sjögren's Syndrome Differs in Minorities

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Minority groups in the U.S. have differing rates of Sjögren's syndrome and exhibit distinct clinical patterns of the disease, a large cross-sectional study revealed.

The percentage of American Indians in a SS cohort of 610 patients was much higher than expected, at 25.3%, whereas the percentage of African Americans was lower, at 3.1%. In addition, American Indians had higher levels of disease activity and more extraglandular manifestations, whereas African Americans had a symptom pattern associated with subsequent lymphoma development, researchers reported in Arthritis Care & Research.

Steroids in GCA and PMR Increase Infectious Risk

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A large study of UK family practice patients shows that polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) or giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients treated with glucocorticoids are at an increased risk of bacterial, viral, parasitic and fungal infection, even at daily doses of less than 5 mg prednisolone.

Lupus Patients at Risk for Heart Failure

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Patients with SLE are at increased risk for HF, not just of MI and stroke, with risk similar to that of patients with diabetes, researchers found in an analysis of Medicaid data.

EULAR 2019 - Podcast #1

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This EULAR 2019 Podcast is a compilation of audio clips from EULAR 2019 in Madrid.

Click HERE to listen.

No Difference Among Biologics in Arthroplasty Infectious Risk

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A large administrative claims analysis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients undergoing arthroplasty has shown no difference among biologics with regard to the risk of infections, but corticosteroid use was associated with a dose dependent risk of infection. 

Allopurinol Fails to Curtail Hypertension

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A novel trial presented at EULAR 2019 last week assessed whether the use of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) would control hypertension in those at risk; however, results of this trial were largely negative.

Hypertension is one of the many comorbidities that plagues gout patients.

Borrelia burgdorferi Peptidoglycan Shedding Drives Lyme Arthritis

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Research published in PNAS has shown that long after active Lyme infection in the joint, a peptidoglycan (PG) of the the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi can be found in the joints of those with late-stage Lyme disease.

Is Methotrexate Necessary with Tofacitinib?

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Rheumatoid arthritis patients taking tofacitinib (Xeljanz) plus methotrexate who achieved low disease activity (LDA) may be able to withdraw from the latter agent without significant worsening of disease activity, a researcher reported at EULAR 2019 in Madrid.

EULAR 2019- Day 4 Report

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Saturday June 15th was the last half-day at EULAR 2019 but was highlighted by the “late-breaking” (LB) presentations that were presented from the podium and by poster.

Below are the top “LB” presentations from EULAR this year:

RheumNow Podcast – EULAR 2019 Streamin' - (6.14.19)

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Dr. Jack Cush reports from Madrid on several novel presentations from EULAR 2019.

1. Genovese Vagal nerve stimulator in RA

EULAR 2019 Report – Day 2

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It was a full and lively 2nd day in Madrid with sessions dedicated to Lupus, RA, Sjogren’s, imaging, rare diseases, psoriatic arthritis and spondyloarthritis. Here are a few of the highlights from day 2 EULAR in Madrid 

EULAR 2019 - Day 1 Report

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Here are a few of the highlights from day 1 EULAR in Madrid. 

Industry Press Releases from EULAR19

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Many of the great presentations from EULAR 2019 feature industry sponsored clinical trials.  Often these become the pivotal studies for regulatory approval and the annual congresses are their first look.

Preview of EULAR 2019 Abstracts

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EULAR 2019 begins today in Madrid and features over 2000 presentations.  After an initial review of titles and abstracts, I’ve compiled a hit list of presentations of interest to me and hopefully other practicing rheumatologists.  

Updated 2018 EULAR Recommendations for the Diagnosis of Gout

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The first EULAR recommendations for the diagnosis of gout were published in 2006. A task force was formed and following a systematic review, they voted unanimously for changes in all items of the 2006 recommendations.

Excess Non-CV Mortality Persists in Gout

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Patients with gout not only have a well-recognized increased risk of dying from cardiovascular (CV) disease, but also have higher all-cause mortality and die prematurely from other diseases, a Swedish study indicated.

More Trouble for Mallinckrodt’s Acthar Gel

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Reuters has reported that Mallinckrodt Plc has tentatively agreed to pay $15.4 million to resolve a US Justice Department investigation into company promotional practices for Acthar gel.

Low Remission/LDA Rates with TNF inhibitors in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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