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Failed Osteoarthritis Pulse Ultrasound Study
A promising therapy aimed at halting and even reversing the pathology underlying osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee failed to show any benefit in a randomized trial.
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Tocilizumab Works Best in Non-Mechanical Ventilated COVID-19 Patients
JAMA has published a meta-analysis of 15 studies of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 treated with tocilizumab and corticosteroids, showing that a clinically meaningful mortality benefit from tocilizumab (and steroids) was best seen in those not requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV).
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ACR Guidelines for the Treatment of Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
The ACR has updated its clinical guidelines for the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), with this update focusing on oligoarthritis, TMJ arthritis, and systemic JIA (with and without macrophage activation syndrome); only the latter, systemic JIA recommendations are reported he
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Drug Survival Differences in RA, PsA, SpA and PsO
Drug survival may be the best measure of efficacy and safety. A new study of novel therapy durability (survival) in patients with RA, axial spondyloarthritis, PsA, and psoriasis shows that while all these drugs are approved for said conditions, drug survival varies by condition, suggesting an ongoing need for individualized treatment.
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Spondyloarthritis in Early Crohn's Disease
Analysis of a German Crohn's disease cohort finds that in patients with early Crohn’s disease (CD), spondyloarthritis was present in nearly one out of five patients and was associated with HLA-B27 positivity and a highly active CD.
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Increased SLE Flares with Hydroxychloroquine Reduction
Concerns about the long-term safety of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) often results in dose reduction or drug discontinuation; yet a current study shows that, for those in remission, HCQ taper/discontinuation resulted in a significantly higher rate of SLE flares.
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Updated ACR/AAHKS Guidelines on Drug Use in Knee & Hip Arthroplasty Patients
The American College of Rheumatology and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons released a summary of their updated guideline for the Perioperative Management of Antirheumatic Medication in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases Undergoing Elective Total Hip or Total Knee Arthroplasty.
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Downside of Holding Methotrexate with COVID-19 Vaccination
A recent prospective, randomized, blinded clinical trial has shown that a 2 week hold of methotrexate (MTX) following COVID-19 (Sinovac-CoronaVac) vaccination resulted in greater anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunogenicity; but there was an increase in flare rates after the second dose of vaccine.
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Diagnostic Delay in Axial Spondyloarthritis (2.25.2022)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week, rheumatologic problems incited by respiratory infections, air pollution and how you live, now where you live.
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COSMOS Study - Guselkumab Efficacy at 1 Year in Psoriatic Arthritis
Guselkumab, an IL-2319-subunit antibody, was studied in active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients who had a previously inadequate response (IR) to tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and after 1 year was shown to significantly improved joint and skin manifestations and physical function.
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ACR Addresses Racial Disparities in Lupus Trials
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is launching two new initiatives to reduce racial disparities in lupus clinical trials: Training to Increase Minority Enrollment in Lupus Clinical Trials with CommunitY Engagement (TIMELY) and new Continuing Medical Educatio
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Positive Results from the DOA (Duloxetine in OsteoArthritis) Study
A pragmatic, open-label trial of osteoarthritis (OA) patients demonstrated that adding duloxetine treatment seems to be beneficial for end-stage knee OA patients with neuropathic-like symptoms (at risk of central sensitization).
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BMI Most Impairs Treatment Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Using a large cohort of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, Tumor-Necrosis Factor inhibitors (TNFi) were compared to non-TNFi biologic therapies and showed that poorer responses were seen in obese and underweight patients, with no clear superiority of non-TNFi therapy over TNFi therapy in an
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Two Year Guselkumab Benefits in Psoriatic Arthritis
Patients enrolled in one of the pivotal trials of guselkumab (Tremfya) as therapy for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and followed for 100 weeks continued to show significantly reduced symptoms relative to pretreatment baseline, researchers said.
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CV Risk Management in Rheumatic Disease Patients
The European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) has developed recommendations for cardiovascular risk (CVR) management in rheumatic disease patients based on literature review and expert consensus.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis Nonadherence is Multifactorial
The consequences of medication non-adherence (NA) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) care are numerous and damaging. A 6-month prospective cohort study of RA patients shows NA to vary according to drug type and be related to psychological, communicational, logistic, sociodemographic or clini
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Hand OA and Heroes in Rheumatology (2.11.2022)
Interesting reports this week about dementia, who gets hand OA and a great list of women Heroes and Pillars of Rheumatology. Tune in as Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from this past week in RheumNow.com.
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ACR Updates Clinical Guidance for Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children Associated With COVID
A Task Force from the ACR has provided an updated (version 3) guidance for the diagnosis and management of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a COVID related condition characterized by fever, inflammation, and multiorgan dysfunction.
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Methotrexate Side Effects
Data came from the UK Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication Study (RAMS), a prospective cohort of early RA patients starting methotrexate (MTX) shows that in the first year, adverse events (AE) were common, but not serious.
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An Ounce of Prevention (2.4.2022)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. He discusses the GI side effects of IL-17 inhibitors, downstream revenues from rheumatology care and dietary prevention of gout.
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