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Osteoporotic Fractures as Back Pain in Older Men
The Journal of Bone and Mineral Research reports that older men with undiagnosed vertebral fractures are likely to report new or worsening back pain. (Citation source bit.ly/2y9rMiZ)
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Romosuzumab Followed by Alendronate is Best in Fracture Prevention
The NEJM reports that in high risk post-menopausal women, romosozumab for 12 months followed by alendronate resulted in a significantly lower fracture than alendronate alone.
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CDC: 40% of U.S Adults Claim to Have Arthritis
The CDC has reported its 2013 and 2014 prevalence statistics for arthritis and other chronic medical conditions affecting U.S. adults aged ≥18 years. Data is drawn from the ongoing Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a state-based, telephone survey of noninstitutionalized adults. Data herein is self-reported arthritis (OA, RA, Gout, FM) and is quantified by state and metropolitan areas.
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Mortality with Interstitial Lung Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Annals of Rheumatic Disease has published a Danish population based study demonstrating the high mortality rates seen with interstitial lung disease (ILD).
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Augments Cardiovascular Risk
A large multi-center study of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has shown, after nearly 6 years follow-up, more CV events in males than females (21% vs. 11%, respectively) and that RA itself accounts for 30% of the attributable CV risk.
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Psoriasis Doubles Mortality Risk
Noe and colleagues have reported in the Journal of Investigative Dermatology that by estimating the extent of skin involvement in psoriasis (%BSA) they may assess future mortality risk.
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What Can 30 Years of Rheumatic Disease Research Tell Us About the Future?
As a practicing rheumatologist for more than 30 years, I can recall a time – just a couple of decades ago – when waiting rooms were full of patients in wheelchairs, debilitated and in pain from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other related conditions.
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Canakinumab Patients have Lower Risk of Lung Cancer
The CANTOS trial has shown that interleukin 1β inhibition by Canakinumab (CAN) resulted not only in a reduction of cardiovascular deaths but also significantly decreased the incidence and death from lung cancer.
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Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy Quadruples Death Risk
A Swedish population-based study found a nearly fourfold greater risk of all-cause mortality in idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) patients compared with the general population.
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Canakinumab Reduces CV Outcomes in High Risk Patients
The results of a randomized, double-blind trial have shown that canakinumab (CAN), an interleukin-1β inhibitor, given as 150 mg every 3 months, resulted in a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events (in high-risk CV patients), independent of lipid-level lowering. The results of the CANTOS studywere simultaneously published in NEJM, Lancet and were presented at the European Society of Cardiology meeting in Barcelona.
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Another Adalimumab Biosimilar Approved
On Friday August 25th, the FDA approved another adalimumab biosimilar: Cyltezo (generic name: adalimumab-adbm).
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Dr. H. Ralph Schumacher (1933-2017)
Dr. H. Ralph Schumacher passed away from ALS in July 30, 2017. The current issues of The Rheumatologist and the Journal of Clinical Rheumatology have beautiful tributes written by Dr. Simon Helfgott and past ACR president Dr.
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Treat-to-Target a Bust with Rheumatologists
Treat-to-target strategy is widely advocated as an important means of optimizing treatment responses in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Even though T2T is encouraged by most guidelines, a current report shows that US Rheumatologists fail to implement T2T in their daily practice.
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Therapeutic Update: 5 Questions on FDA Hearing for Tofacitinib in PsA
In this Therapeutic Update, Drs. Mease, Gibofsky and Cush answer five questions regarding the August 3rd FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee meeting that reviewed the potential approval of tofacitinib (Xeljanz) in patients with active psoriatic arthritis. The panel was nearly unanimous (10-1) in favor of the efficacy and safety profile of of tofacitinib, and similarly voted 10-1 to approve this drug for use in PsA. Final decisions on these recommendations from the AAC panel will be made at a later date by the FDA.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Increases Risk of Repeat Coronary Events and Mortality
Studies have shown that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have increased risk of acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and may suffer from poorer short-term outcomes after ACS. The long-term outcomes in patients with RA with ACS was shown to be worse than matched non-RA patients also with ACS.
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Pegloticase Infusion Reactions Largely Seen in Non-Responders
The introduction of intravenous pegloticase (PEG) in 2010 was felt by many to be a major advance in the treatment of patients with severe, refractory tophaceous gout. But for some, concerns over infusion reactions and safety have limited its use.
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No Evidence to Support Use of Gabapentinoids in Low Back Pain
Management of chronic low back pain (CLBP) is often complex, requiring multiple modalities and meds to control pain. An analysis of studies shows that Gabapentinoids, including pregabalin and gabapentin, have little to no benefits but significant risk of adverse effects.
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Psoriatic Arthritis Patients with Comorbidities have Worse Disease and Poor Responses
A population-based cohort study shows that comorbidities in psoriatic arthritis patients (PsA) were associated with higher disease activity, shorter persistence and reduced clinical response to TNF inhibitors (TNFi).
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Kids with Crohn's have Profound MSK Deficits - but No Increase in Fractures
Crohn’s disease (CD), a chronic inflammatory condition of the gastrointestinal tract, is also known for its propensity to affect the musculoskeletal system.
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Therapeutic Update: 5 Questions on Sirukumab FDA Hearing
Drs. Cush and Gibofsky answer 5 questions about the August 2, 2017 FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee meeting that reviewed the NDA for sirukumab use in rheumatoid arthritis. The panel voted against (1-12) the approval of sirukumab.
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