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. 

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.

Recent studies have quantified the gender gap among speakers at academic conferences. The largest study of 181 medical conferences held in North America over one decade found an increase in the proportion of female speakers from 25 to 34% over time, and that the underrepresentation of women was more marked at surgical compared to medical conferences.

This meeting sees new data on using anti-IL-17 agents in non-radiographic axial SpA. Up until now these patients have only had TNF inhibitors available, so data about the efficacy of IL17 inhibitors is really important.

Rheumatic immune-related adverse events can start at almost any time after the commencement after immune checkpoint inhibitor immunotherapy for cancer, and are liable to persist long after the immunotherapy has ceased, according to data presented at ACR 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Therapies targeting sUA accumulation or improving its excretion are widely used for treatment of symptoms and prevention of progression of gout for decades.

Shingrix (GSK), the herpes zoster subunit vaccine (a two-shot series), was approved by the FDA in Fall 2018 and is currently approved for use in adults 50 years and older.

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

At the 2019 ACR annual meeting, several abstracts looked at the importance of myopia (muscle wasting due to illness at any age) and sarcopenia (age related muscle wasting) in the setting of various rheumatologic diseases.

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

The Safety of Methotrexate

As we enter flu season it is of the utmost importance that we remember to assess our patients’ influenza vaccine status at each visit.

Gout is a systemic inflammatory disease with high potential for joint damage due to erosive changes and MSU deposits resulting in disability and chronic pain. Prompt diagnosis and effective treatment are key to better long term outcomes and decreased disability.

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.

Flares of vasculitis can still be a problem after hepatitis C-related cryoglobulinemic vasculitis patients are cured of their hepatitis C by direct-acting antivirals, as demonstrated by data from four registries presented at ACR 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia.

Sunday was the first full day of scientific sessions at the 2019 ACR/ARP meeting in Atlanta. Yesterday we shared our initial news articles, videos and more with you. Following is my roundup of day one. 

Delays in Diagnosis

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is a common condition seen by both primary care and in the rheumatology office.

The Medscape’s Physician Lifestyle & Happiness Report 2019 crowned rheumatologists as the happiest subspecialists. We topped the list with 65% of the respondents indicating that they were happy outside of work.

It has been a wonderful year for autoinflammatory diseases at the ACR Annual Meeting.