The PRECISION trial was published this week in the NEJM, presented at the Cardiology meetings in New Orleans, and presented today by Dr. Daniel Solomon at the 2016 ACR annual meeting in Washington, D.C. (citation source http://buff.ly/2fUmoqO)

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.

New treatment options for psoriatic arthritis continue to be explored at this year’s ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting in Washington, DC. Guselkumab (GUS) is a fully human monoclonal antibody against the p19 subunit of IL-23.  

Tocilizumab is in the spotlight at this year’s ACR 2016 meeting but there is still much to learn, including more about its safety profile. In an abstract presented at today’s poster session (Abstract 2618), Morel, et al.

Big highlights from Monday included the Hench Lecture, plenary session abstracts and presentations on drug safety and cost efficacy in rheumatoid arthritis.

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.

Education on MACRA is the key to successful survival. The important take home points noted in Dr. Will Harvey’s lecture at ACR 2016 (session title: Holy MACRA! How to Survive and Thrive in the New Era of MACRA, MIPS, and APMs) are stated below.

On Monday, November 13, there were two new presentations at the annual ACR 2016 meeting on new biologics seeking approval for use in polyarticular juvenile arthritis.

Ixekinumab (IXE) is an IGG4 monoclonal antibody bindings with high affinity to IL -17A.  Currently marketed at Taltz and approved for use in chronic plaque psoriasis, the agent is also being developed for use in psoriatic arthritis.

For me and many others, this is the Super Bowl of meetings. I haven’t missed an ACR meeting since I started going as a fellow in 1984. In this span of 30 years I have acquired insights on how to navigate such a big meeting. When I say big, I mean over 14,000 attendees from over 100 countries swarming throughout a convention center that has the elements of the Texas state fair, a gigantic Costco (on Saturday), and a sold-out concert.

The PRECISION study will be presented on Tuesday, November 15, 2016 by Dr. Elaine Husni from the Cleveland Clinic. This report brings to a climax the controversy ignited by the February 2005 3 day FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee review of the safety of the blockbuster COX-2 inhibitors, celecoxib, rofecoxib, and valdecoxib.

CreakyJoints will be presenting 5 Posters at the 2016 ACR/AHRP Annual Meeting. At the meeting they will also announce the publication of first-ever Rheumatoid Arthritis Patient Guidelines. 

Dr. Jerome Greenberg from UCLA has published 10 tips and pearls (based on years of teaching and experience) on immunizations in an out-patient practice:

The International Osteoporosis Foundation has established the Chronic Inflammation and Bone Structure (CIBS) Working Group to address bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the role of biologic therapies. They conclude that early and aggressive treatment with biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs will help prevent progressive bone loss in patients with RA.

RA increases CV risk considerably. But whose responsibility is it to manage CV risk in RA patients?

Flu season is upon us. While we try our best to vaccinate as many patients as possible, at times it can be challenging for reasons ranging from patient’s perceptions that the vaccine gives them the flu to others stating they are allergic to vaccine components.

Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights and reports from this week on RheumNow.com, including drug-induced cutaneous lupus, pediatric lupus being worse, new gout drug SEL-12, Gut microbiome and IgA plasmablasts, and the weakly-received new ACP guidelines on gout.

The opioid abuse epidemic is well known and the focus of many regulators and health care personnel.  The problem also affects the youngest Americans, according to a recent Washington Post article. 

ACP released clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of gout. Interestingly, these are not always aligned with the 2012 ACR gout guidelines.

The Wall Street Journal has reported an alarming trend in generic drug pricing that affects many, especially the elderly and those with arthrtis.