Short-term Benefit with Prednisolone in Hand Osteoarthritis

Save

Lancet reports that prednisolone 10 mg daily for 6 weeks can effectively control the pain of hand osteoarthritis (OA), according to results from the Hand Osteoarthritis Prednisolone Efficacy (HOPE) study.

This was a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial aimed to assess the short-term effects of prednisolone in painful hand OA and synovial inflammation. Patients were required to have hand OA and signs of inflammation in their distal and proximal interphalangeal (DIP/PIP) joints and > 4 DIP/PIP osteoarthritic nodes and at least one DIP/PIP joint with soft swelling/erythema or evidence of synovitis on power Doppler ultrasound. The primary endpoint was finger pain.

CRP in SSc: Identifying a Severe Phenotype

Save

Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) who have persistent inflammation -- characterized by consistently elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) -- have more severe disease and worse outcomes, a retrospective study confirmed.

ACR/EULAR Classification Criteria for IgG4 Related Disease

Save

IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a relatively new disorder since 2003, and may present as a diagnostic challenge as it can cause fibroinflammatory pathology in nearly any organ. 

Variations in First Biologic Use in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Save

A Canadian analysis shows that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are more likely to receive biologic DMARDs earlier if they are younger, female, and living in urban areas closer to prescribers.

Steroids Use in Lupus Linked to Damage Accural

Save

A report from Lancet Rheumatology shows that glucocorticoid use contributes to damage accrual in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) independent of disease activity.

FDA Warns 15 CBD Manufacturers

Save

Today, the U.S.

Biologic Safety Guidelines from the British Society for Rheumatology

Save

In the United Kingdom, NICE has looked to the British Society of Rheumatology (BSR) to develop evidence based guidance on the safe use of biologic DMARDs in patients with inflammatory arthritis.

Secukinumab Improves Enthesitis

Save

Secukinumabs (SEC) effect on enthesitis in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) was studied in the FUTURE 2 and 3 studies and SEC was shown significantly reduced enthesitis by more than 65% within 14 week. 

Smoking Cessation Lowers RA Disease Activity and CV Risks

Save

A multinational cross-sectional cohort study suggests that smoking cessation in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients is associated with lower disease activity measures, improved lipid profiles and lower rates of cardiovascular (CV) events.

Spondyloarthritis Affects Pregnancy Outcomes

Save

A Danish registy has shown that the the prevalence of Spondyloarthritis (SpA) diagnosed prior to delivery has increased 5 fold in the last two decades and that SpA is associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO).

Apremilast Reduces Oral Ulcers in Behcet's Syndrome

Save

A multinational trial finds a statistically significant number of patients with Behçet's syndrome showed a greater reduction in the number of oral ulcers with apremilast compared with placebo.

BMS and Celgene Merge as Amgen Buys Otezla

Save

Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) has completed its $74 billion acquisition of Celgene. With the acquisition complete, Celgene is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of BMS. The combined companies have nine products with more than $1 billion in annual sales.

RheumNow Podcast –Favorites of ACR 2019 (11.22.19)

Save

Dr. Jack Cush recaps standout presentations and information from ACR 2019 held in Atlanta November 9-12, 2019.

A Focus on WOCBA (Women of Childbearing Age)

Save

Largely because it can be difficult to do studies in pregnant women, gaps remain in the area of rheumatic disease in pregnancy. This year’s ACR highlights some important new points to consider.

Psoriatic Arthritis at ACR 2019

Save

Below are several of the highlight studies in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) presented at the ACR 2019 annual meeting in Atlanta. 

ACR 2019 - Report From Day 2 (Monday)

Save

Monday was another full day of sessions and studies here in Atlanta. Following is my roundup of day two.

The Safety of Methotrexate

ACR 2019 – Best of the Plenary Sessions

Save

The ACR Plenary Sessions featured some of the best research presented on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday in Atlanta. Here are my seven notable highlights from the Plenaries.

RheumNow Podcast – ACR 2019 Round Up (11.15.19)

Save

Dr. Jack Cush presents his favorite abstracts and presentations from Rheumatology Round Up and ACR 2019.

Me and ⁦@AdamJBrownMD⁩ of Rheumination game in the studio to do ⁦@VindicoMedEd⁩ curbside consults on GCA! Sometimes the Dx is NOT so easy!!!Stay tuned to us and ⁦@HealioRheum⁩ ⁦@AWIRGROUP⁩ ⁦@RheumNow⁩ ⁦@VasculitisFound⁩ ⁦@ramos_casals⁩ https://t.co/nnMC9r5LsH