Risk of GI Perforations on Biologics

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Gastrointestinal perforation is a rare but serious complication that RA patients may be at particular risk for.

RheumNow Week in Review – 16 December 2016

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights from this week on RheumNow.com

EULAR 2016 Recommendations on Early Arthritis

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Combe and leading European rheumatologist have published an update to the 2007 European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for management of early arthritis.

Lupus May Be at Increased Risk for Dementia

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Neuropsychiatric manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) may occur in up to half of patients in their lifetime.

However, dementia is often not reported or studied in cohorts with neurologic disease in lupus. 

Random Drug Levels and Anti-Drug Antibodies Predict Rheumatoid Outcomes

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Researchers from Manchester, UK have reported the results of their BRAGGSS study showing that certolizumab (CZP) random drug levels and anti-drug antibody (ADAbs) levels can predict optimal outcomes in CZP treated rheumatoid arthritis patients. 

CDC Report on Smoking and Smokeless Tobacco

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Combustible and smokeless tobacco use causes adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and multiple types of cancer. Cigarette consumption in the United States has declined overall since the 1960s, but consumption of other tobacco products has not.

Rituximab May Reduce Mortality Risk in Rheumatoid Lung Disease

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While it is known that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with interstitial lung involvement is associated with severe seropositive disease and is associated with an increased mortality.

Herpes Zoster and GCA – What’s the Deal?

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In November I reported on an abstract presented at ACR by Muratore, et al. who looked for evidence of VZV infection in temporal artery biopsies of GCA patients and found none.

Nonsignificant CV Risk with Actemra vs Enbrel

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WASHINGTON -- Rheumatoid arthritis is a recognized risk factor for heart attacks and stroke, but a study comparing two leading biologics found only a non-significant increase in relative risk for patients treated with toclizimab (Actemra) vs etanercept (Enbrel), researchers reported here.

Physicians Still Over-Prescribe Antibiotics, Narcotics and Opioids

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A study by the American College of Physicians (ACP) found that physicians continue to prescribe treatments that offer little benefit to patients, despite the advice of clinical guidelines.

Key Lessons from the TNF Inhibitor Head-to-Head EXXELERATE Study

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The EXXELERATE study is featured prominently in Lancet this week. In some ways, this represents a landmark negative trial that rheumatologists should review and be aware of.

Is ABT-494 the Next JAK Inhibitor?

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Tofacitinib may well be joined by a new once daily JAK inhibitor, baricitinib in the next few months.

The RheumNow Week in Review – 2 December 2016

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Dr. Cush highlights reports from this week on RheumNow.com.

Statins for the Treatment of Osteoporosis

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Herpes Zoster and Giant Cell Arteritis

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The potential association of herpes zoster with giant cell arteritis (GCA) has been a debated topic and certainly has gotten some attention at ACR 2016 this year.

Diffuse Cutaneous Systemic Sclerosis: Results of the SCOT Trial

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Diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) is one of the most difficult autoimmune diseases to treat. In case of major organ involvement (lung, kidney), prognosis is poor and treatment options are limited.

Maintenance of Remission in ANCA-vasculitis: MAINRITSAN study.

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It is well known that ANCA-associated vasculitides can be hard to control and relapses are common. The choice of maintenance therapy is rather limited and therapies are not always effective.

RheumNow (ACR16) Week in Review – 18 November 2016

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Three Year Data on Secukinumab

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Dr. Philip Mease, MD presented the long-term efficacy and safety data for secukinumab in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) at the ACR Annual meeting in Washington, DC.

My ACR 2016 Highlights

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Washington is always a great city to visit (even though there were a few protesters floating around the streets). I hope the posts I made were of interest to some readers. Here are my top 5 highlights from ACR 2016: