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Infectious Mortality in Autoimmune Rheumatic Disorders
Infectious conditions are a significant cause of mortality in autoimmune rheumatic diseases (ARD). Among patients hospitalized with an infection, we compared in-hospital and long-term (3-year) mortality between those with and without ARD.
Predicting Infection in Lupus Nephritis
Machine learning (ML) models were applied to 3 cohorts of lupus nephritis (LN) patients and established algorithms to predict co-infection in LN.
Read ArticleCanary in a Coal Mine (4.19.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews regulatory reports, news and novel journal articles - this week focusing on Sjogren's, ILD, Gout and Uveitis.
Read ArticleRA-ILD at Higher Risk for Serious Infection and Death
A prospective, multicenter study from Spain has demonstrated higher rates of mortality and serious infection in rheumatoid arthritis–associated interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) patients.
Read ArticleBurnout or Retire (4.12.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com. Is it time to worry about burnout and those who are leaving healthcare?
Read ArticleSeasonal Pathogens and Henoch-Schönlein Purpura
Epidemiologic studies of Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) have suggested seasonal variation in occurrence rates (higher from September-April, lower in June-August), suggesting a role for infectious triggers.
Read Article1/600 Falls May Die (4.5.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and Journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com - including problems w/ falls, pain and treatment of Dupuytren’s contractures.
Read Article7 Updates on Prosthetic Joint Infections
These are excerpts and takeaway summaries from several literature reports addressing the diagnosis and outcomes of prosthetic joint infections (PJI).
Read ArticleNaysayers & Disrupters (3.22.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week - including a few contrary reports on infection, seropositivity and plasmapheresis.
Read ArticleInfection and Rituximab-linked Immunoglobulin Deficiency
A minority of immune-mediated inflammatory disease (IMID) patients treated with rituximab (RTX) are expected to develop and depressed immunoglobulin (Ig) levels. A recent cohort analysis suggests that RTX-induced Ig deficiency was not associated with an increased risk of severe infecti
Read ArticleInsights on Postinfectious ME/CFS
The medical community is challenged by myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome, or ME/CFS - its origins, pathogenesis outcomes and treatment. JAMA has reviewed a recent Nature paper wherein an NIH led team of multidisciplinary experts performed an inpatient study of postinfe
Read ArticleIdes of March (3.15.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush has advice for Caesar and the superstitious, and covers pregnancy, platelets, dialysis and vaccinations in Lupus.
Read ArticleMMWR: Vaccination and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but serious condition typically occurring 2–6 weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection and characterized by fever and multiorgan involvement. The current MMWR report shows that MIS-C case numbers have decreased by 98% since 2021.
Read ArticleDepression and RA (3.8.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and regulatory approvals from the past week.
Read ArticleLyme Disease 2022
The CDC has updated its Lyme disease surveillance report based on a new case definition. Compared to 2017–2019, the number of cases in 2022 rose by 69%.
Read ArticleCan Mycophenolate be Stopped in Stable SLE?
In patients with clinically stable systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and lupus nephritis, the withdrawal of mycophenolate mofetil was not significantly inferior to mycophenolate maintenance, but MMF withdrawal had numerically more reactivations, while MMF maintenance had more infections.
Read ArticleCOVIDs Extended Risk for Rheumatic Disease
Annals of Internal Medicine reports a large, binational study finding SARS-CoV-2 infection was associated with an increased risk for autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRDs) that extends up to 12 months after infe
Read ArticleSniffles & Arthritis (3.1.2024)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Are these associations with infection, biomarkers and weather real or imaginary? Linked or luck? Causal or casual? You decide....
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