Withdrawal of TNF Inibitors Fails in Most RA Patients

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The 12 month POET study analyzed 817 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who achieved remission or low disease activity (LDAS) for ≥6 months and then randomized 2:1 to stopping or continuing their TNF inhibitor.

Alendronate Use in Steroid Treated Patients Lowers the Risk of Hip Fracture

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Among older patients using medium to high doses of the anti-inflammatory steroid prednisolone, treatment with the osteoporosis drug alendronate was associated with a significantly lower risk of hip fracture, according to a study published by JAMA.

Managing Secondary Non-Response to Rituximab in Lupus

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Rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, has been effectively used in the treatment of multiple autoimmune disorders for over two decades. But the response to rituximab has been shown to not be as effective in SLE as it is in RA. 

Orencia Approved for Use in Psoriatic Arthritis

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The FDA has approved both IV and SC ORENCIA (abatacept) for the treatment of adults with active Psoriatic Arthritis.

Potential Reasons Why Osteoarthritis Preferentially Affects Women

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Researchers from Augusta University have examined exosomes from patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA) to enhance our molecular understanding of the pathogenesis of OA. (Citation source http://buff.ly/2tuDZ3v)

ACR Says Senate Healthcare Bill Falls Short of Protecting Americans with Rheumatic Disease

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Dr. Sharad Lakhanpal, President of the American College of Rheumatology has responded to the Senate's proposed changes to healthcare coverage in the USA.

Bone Turnover Markers in Practice: A Guide for the Rheumatologist

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Bone turnover markers (BTMs) have been eyed for decades as potential monitoring tools in osteoporosis.

EULAR 2017 – Day 3 Highlights

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Friday was a mega-day in Madrid as this day all the late-breaking abstracts were presented, in addition to the bulk of high-impact podium presentations in several areas.

Here are the major presentations from several clinical areas.

Wearable Technologies Coming of Age

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The first day of EULAR 2017 highlighted a symposium focus on the advances in wearable technologies. Several lectures updated attendees with the state of wearables in society and their implications on public health, fitness, weight loss and clinical trials.

Mixed Results with Combination Therapy in Gout

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Lesinurad, a selective URAT-1 inhibitor has been approved for coadministration with a urate-lowering therapy (ULT) in patients with gout for nearly a year. The CRYSTAL study was one of the studies that lead to FDA approval.

Nurse-Led Patient Care in Rheumatology

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Manpower in rheumatology is about to be a major problem for the next several decades: not enough trainees, a "tsunami of retiring older white rheumatologists", and an aging baby-boomer, arthritis-primed population will strain current resources and manpower.  Moreover, necessary services will not likely be available to those in need and there may be a significant maldistribution of adequate rheumatologic care.

Higher Fracture Risks with Prolonged Bisphosphonate Use in Older Women

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The Journal of the American Geriatric Society has reported that older women receiving bisphosphonate therapy for greater than 10-13 years were more likely to suffer from fractures.

Biologics Before Triple DMARD is Not Cost Effective in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Stepping up to biologic therapy when methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy fails was not shown to be cost effective, compared to first trying triple therapy, in a rheumatoid arthritis (RA) study published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

The RheumNow Week in Review - 26 May 2017

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Dr. Jack Cush Reviews highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com:

Anti-IL-5 Success in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

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The NEJM reports success when using mepolizumab (anti-IL-5 monoclonal antibody) in a 52 week study of patients with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA).

Educational Intervention Facilitates Treat-to-Target Management in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Treat-to-target education through group-based quality improvement sessions can result in wider use of treat-to-target in practice, according to researchers.

No Arthroscopy Needed for Degenerative Knees and Meniscal Tears

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The British Medical Journal has published a clinical practice guideline for the use of arthroscopic surgery for degenerative knee arthritis and meniscal tears, suggesting that many patients will not benefit from such surgery.

Rituximab May Benefit Rheumatoid Lung

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A retrospective study shows that rituximab treatment of RA-related interstitial lung disease may improve or forestall ILD progression.

The RheumNow Week in Review – 12 May 2017

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Dr. Jack Cush highlights the big stories, news and articles from this week at RheumNow.com.