RheumNow Podcast – Loretta Lynn Arthritis (3.29.19)

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

FDA Approves Cimzia for Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today approved Cimzia (certolizumab pegol) injection for treatment of adults with a certain type of inflammatory arthritis called non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA), with objective signs of inflammation.

For RA With COPD, Abatacept is Safe

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Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who also had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) had no increased risk of serious respiratory complications when treated with abatacept (Orencia), a large claims-based analysis found.

Best of 2019 - Ups and Downs with Abatacept

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Two recent studies have examined the effect of starting abatacept upon the risk of serious hospitalized infections or cancer, showing divergent results from claims data analyses.

Acute Problems Associated With Cannabis Use

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An observational study published in Annals of Internal Medicine finds that emergency department (ED) visits attributable to inhaled cannabis are more frequent than those attributable to edible cannabis, although the latter is associated with more acute psychiatric visits and more ED visits than e

Risky Painkillers Commonly Prescribed for Osteoarthritis

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Published guidelines warn that treating osteoarthritis (OA) with opioids and benzodiazepines can boost patients' risk of falling.

Cyclosporin and IVIG Effective in Kawasaki's Disease

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A Lancet study has shown that adding cyclosporin to intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) Kawasaki disease patients, who were predicted to be resistant to IVIG, was both safe and effective in averting severe coronary artery outcomes.

No Rise in Cancer Risk with Actemra

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In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), there was no increased risk for malignancy development seen with newly initiated tocilizumab (Actemra) treatment, an analysis of three U.S. insurance claim databases found.

CRA Position Statement on Medical Cannabis Use

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Courtesy of the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) website, here are consensus guidelines on medical cannabis use.

Rheumatology patients experience prevalent pain that is only modestly controlled with current treatment strategies.

RheumNow Podcast – You Owe Me a DEXA (3.15.19)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews this week's news and highlights from RheumNow.com.

Brazilian Guidelines for Systemic Autoimmune Myopathies

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The Myopathy Committee of the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology (BSR) has put forward recommendations for the management of patients with systemic autoimmune myopathies (SAM).

Lower TNF Inhibitor Persistence in Spondylitis

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A claims data analysis shows that only one-third of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) treated with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) therapy remain on their initial drug in the 2 years post initiation.

Tramadol May be Associated with Increased Mortality in Osteoarthritis

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JAMA reports that tramadol use in adults with osteoarthritis (OA) may be associated with increased all-cause mortality (compared with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs).

2018 Swedish Guidelines for Giant Cell Arteritis Treatment

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The Swedish Society of Rheumatology has developed evidence-based guidelines for the management of giant cell arteritis (GCA) with a focus on the appropriate use of corticosteroids and tocilizumab. 

Biologic Agents have Equal Efficacy in Enthesitis and Dactylitis

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A systematic review has shown that TNF inhibitors (TNFi) are equaled in efficacy by other biologic agents (ustekinumab, secukinumab, and ixekizumab) in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients with in dactylitis and enthesitis.

Dual IL-17 Inhibitor in Psoriasis Succeeds

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Patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis attained durable complete and near-complete responses for more than a year with a dual inhibitor of interleukin (IL)-17, data from a randomized trial showed. 

RheumNow Podcast – Scleroderma and the Lung (3.1.19)

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

Early TNF inhibition in Early Psoriatic Arthritis

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A small, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial in early psoriatic arthritis (PsA) has shown that first-line use of golimumab and methotrexate (MTX) is superior to MTX alone in inducing remission in PsA.

Canadian Vaccination Guidelines for the Immunosuppressed

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A multidisciplinary Canadian task force has developed guidelines for vaccination in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapies, based on the evidence that immunosuppressive use in immune-mediated disease may be  associated with an elevated risk of infections. 

FDA Slaps a Boxed Warning on Febuxostat for CV Risk

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The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reviewed data from the Cardiovascular Safety of Febuxostat and Allopurinol in Patients with Gout and Cardiovascular Morbidities (CARES) trial and concluded there is an increased risk of death with Uloric (febuxostat) compared with allopurinol, and has added this as a boxed warning to the drug’s product label.