Tuesday the FDA approved the IL-17 inhibitor, Taltz (ixekizumab) for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. (Citation source http://buff.ly/1py10wd) 

The CDC estimates nearly 71% of adults with cardiovascular disease and 54% of adults with hypercholesterolemia use a cholesterol-lowering

Diuretics are frequently implicated causes of hyperuricemia and gout.  And there are gout variants wherein age, renal dysfunction and diuretic use may give rise to gouty attack in the hands of women with nodal osteoarthritis.

See the highlights from the past week that appeared on RheumNow.com, and watch Dr. Jack Cush as he reviews each of them. 

In February 2016, RheumNow published 82 tweets about impactful news, research and teaching points that impact the rheumatology community. These feeds had a reach (impressions) of 80,800 with, 76 mentions, and over 2700 visits to learn on RheumNow.com.

Sclerostin, an inhibitor of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, negatively regulates osteoblast differentiation and has anti-anabolic effects on bone formation.  Thus, inhibition of sclerostin is currently being studied as therapy for postmenopausal osteoporosis.

The use of tumour necrosis factor α inhibitors (TNFis) at the time of major surgery has been a challenge for surgeons, rheumatologists and those wishing to develop evidence-based guidelines for this clinical scenario.

Several new interleukin-6 inhibitors made headlines this week. While none of the new IL-6 inhibitors are soon to be approved and available, these studies may redefine the role of other non-TNF biologics in the future.

Highlights from this week at RheumNow.com:

Lancet has reported the results of a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of tocilizumab in patients with new-onset giant cell arteritis (GCA).

A systematic review by Khouri examined the extent drugs are capable of inducing Raynaud's phenomenon (RP).

Highlights from this week on RheumNow:

Chronic liver disease, and in particular hepatitis B infection, is a contraindication to methotrexate (MTX) use.

Clinicians often face the issue of using a TNF inhibitor (TNFi) in patients with heart failure or cardiac disease. Here are the facts and data necessary to make a cogent decision to use or avoid TNFi.

In a study published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, researchers enrolled over 3,500 U.S. drivers, aged 16 to 98 years, and followed them for a three-year period after rigging their vehicles with internal video cameras and devices to track speed and location.

The following is a collection of cases presented to me by rheumatology colleagues. Each has a challenging therapeutic or safety issue. Answers are based on experience with references from literature and guidelines.

Reuters reports that researchers at the University of Warwick have devised a new transdermal drug delivery patch that may change the future of pain management. 

Renal impairment is a risk factor for gout and a barrier to optimal gout management. Many of the drugs used to treat gout require adjustment in those with renal disease.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting exocrine glands with painful abscesses in intertriginous areas.

Update on Ankylosing Spondylitis and Spondyloarthritis