RheumNow Podcast –Favorites of ACR 2019 (11.22.19)

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

ACR 2019 - Report From Day 3 (Tuesday)

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Here's my summary of key studies presented Tuesday. 

Tofacitinib in Polyarticular JIA

Muscle Loss and Frailty in Rheumatic Disease

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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.

ACR 2019 - Report From Day 2 (Monday)

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

The Safety of Methotrexate

ACR 2019 – Best of the Plenary Sessions

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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.

MRI in the Diagnosis and Management of Polymyalgia Rheumatica

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

RheumNow Podcast – ACR 2019 Round Up (11.15.19)

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Dr. Jack Cush presents his favorite abstracts and presentations from Rheumatology Round Up and ACR 2019.

RheumNow Podcast – Better Ways to Treat Gout (11.8.19)

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

In RA, Activity Protects Cognition

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Physical activity appeared to be protective against the development of cognitive impairments among patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a prospective cohort study found.

New EMA Warnings for Tofacitinib in Patients at Risk for Clots

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The European Medicines Agency safety committee (PRAC) has concluded that Xeljanz (tofacitinib - TOFA) could increase the risk of blood clots in the lungs and in deep veins in patients who are already at high risk for venous thromboembolic events. The PRAC is recommending that TOFA should be used with caution in patients at high risk of blood clots (VTE), regardless of dose used.

Year in Review - Psoriatic Arthritis 2019

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Major new insights into the treatment of psoriatic arthritis dominated the headlines during the past year, with a head-to-head trial comparing IL-17A inhibition with tumor necrosis factor blockade, another study considering whether methotrexate can improve outcomes with anti-TNF therapy in PsA, and an investigation into the effects of biologic therapy on bone.

Physical Activity Lowers Fracture Risk in Post-Menopausal Women

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An analysis from the Women’s Health Initiative study shows that postmenopausal women who participate in vigorous physical activity have a statistically lower risk of total and site-specific fractures

RheumNow Podcast – Ghastly, Ghoulish News (10.31.19)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews recent journal articles and info bits from the past week on RheumNow.com. 

The Global Burden of Rheumatoid Arthritis 2017

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The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors study (GBD) from 2017 analyzed the burden of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) for 195 countries between 1990 to 2017 and surmised that RA is a major global public health challenge, with increasing prevalence and incidence rates.

Outcomes in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

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Arthritis Research & Therapy reports on a prospective cohort of children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) shows that the incidence has held steady at 12.8/100,000 children, but that the frequency uveitis and the need for orthopedic surgery has decreased in the last 20 years.

Frequent DMARD Discontinuations During Rheumatoid Pregnancies

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A Canadian population-based study shows that pregnant women with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) frequently discontinue their DMARD medications, especially in the first trimester.

Methotrexate and the Risk of Lung Disease

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Rheumatology has a comprehensive overview of methotrexate (MTX) and the risk of lung injury, MTX-related pneumonitis and interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Past reports suggest the frequence of MTX-pneumonitis to be between 0.3 and 11.6%; recent studies suggest it may be much lower.

RheumNow Podcast – The Shoes Maketh the Doctor (10.25.19)

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

Voluntary Recall of Zantac by Sanofi/FDA

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Sanofi has initiated a voluntary recall of all Zantac OTC (over-the-counter) products in the United States. This includes Zantac 150®, Zantac 150® Cool Mint, and Zantac 75®.

Interleukin Targeted Biologics Increase Risks of Infection

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A systematic review of the literature shows that, compared to placebo, the use of non-TNF, interleukin inhibitor biologics may be associated with significantly higher rates of serious infections, opportunistic infections, and cancer.