Vitamin D has No Effect on Knee Osteoarthritis

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Vitamin D supplementation for individuals with knee osteoarthritis and low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels did not reduce knee pain or slow cartilage loss, according to a study appearing in the March 8 issue of JAMA.

 

The Week in Review - 4 March 2016

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Highlights from this week on RheumNow:

Intraarticular Steroids Before Joint Surgery Increase Infection Risk

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Hip and knee intraarticular injection of corticosteroids are frequently prescribed to alleviate pain or inflammation in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, especially in the period leading up to scheduled arthroplasty.

Methotrexate Safety with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection

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Chronic liver disease, and in particular hepatitis B infection, is a contraindication to methotrexate (MTX) use.

TNF Inhibition and Heart Failure

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Clinicians often face the issue of using a TNF inhibitor (TNFi) in patients with heart failure or cardiac disease. Here are the facts and data necessary to make a cogent decision to use or avoid TNFi.

Early Aggressive Treatment of Elderly RA Results in Less Joint Surgery

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Two  population-based cohorts from Ontario (ON) and Quebec (QC) were used to assess if early DMARD influenced the need for joint replacement surgery among elderly patients with incident rheumatoid arthritis.

Less Treatment, Responses and Safety in Elder-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis

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A recent review compared elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) to those with younger-onset rheumatoid arthritis (YORA) to assess treatment responses and safety issues with biologics and DMARDS. EORA is generally defined as the onset of rheumatoid arthritis after age 60 years.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Alone is Not a Risk for Post-Op CV Events

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Using hospitalization claims from 7 states, reasearchers studied the risk of cardiovascular outcomes following surgery in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.  (Citation source http://buff.ly/1TDsVG6)

Oral Prednisolone and NSAIDs Equipotent in Acute Gout

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An emergency department based study evaluated the efficacy and safety of oral prednisolone versus indomethacin in 416 patients with acute gout in a multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial.

Curbside Consults - February 2016

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The following is a collection of cases presented to me by rheumatology colleagues. Each has a challenging therapeutic or safety issue. Answers are based on experience with references from literature and guidelines.

Challenges of Dermatomyositis Progress

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In the current issue of Lancet, Pierre Miossec discusses the challenges of studying and managing juvenile dermatomyositis and, specifically, the

Transdermal NSAID Touted as an Advance

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Reuters reports that researchers at the University of Warwick have devised a new transdermal drug delivery patch that may change the future of pain management. 

Febuxostat Safe in Gout with Moderate-Severe Renal Impairment

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Renal impairment is a risk factor for gout and a barrier to optimal gout management. Many of the drugs used to treat gout require adjustment in those with renal disease.

Patient's Out-of-Pocket Costs for New Drugs Sky-Rocketing

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The good news: in 2015 the FDA approved a record number of new drugs (n=45).

The bad news: most new drugs entering the market today have an exorbitantly high price tag.

RWCS 2016 - Updates in AS, PsA and Lupus

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Update on Ankylosing Spondylitis and Spondyloarthritis

Smoking and Age Linked to Development of Inflammatory Arthritis

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A prospective cohort of RA first-degree relatives were prospectively studied for genetic and environmental factors (smoking, body mass index, education, and parity) and RA-related autoantibodies that may influence future development of inflammatory joint symptoms over a 2 year&nbsp

Prescribers More Likely to Escalate to Biologics than Triple DMARD Therapy

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The paradigm for DMARD use in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) begins with DMARD monotherapy and then escalates to combination therapy with either DMARDs or a combination of conventional DMARD plus a biologic DMARD (bDMARD).

RWCS 2016 – OA/OP, Gout, Sarcoid & JIA Reviewed

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Recent Developments in Osteoarthritis, Osteoporosis and Gout

RWCS 2016 – Rheumatoid Review, Psoriatic Arthritis and Medical Marijuana

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The Rheumatology Winter Clinical Symposia launched its 9th annual conference yesterday in Maui. Highlights of this meeting will be covered by RheumNow from Wednesday 2/10 till Saturday 2/13.

Rheumatoid Arthritis Year in Review

What To Do After Teriparatide?

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Once the clock runs out on teriparatide (TPTD or Forteo), what is the next best option?