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Canakinumab First FDA-Approved Therapy for Adult-Onset Still's Disease
Yesterday, the FDA approved canakinumab (Ilaris) as treatment for adult-onset Still's disease (AOSD), the first ever FDA approved drug for AOSD.
Canakinumab, an interleukin-1 inhibitor, was FDA approved in 2013 for use children (aged 2 years and older) with systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis and has since been approved for use in other periodic fever disorders (e.g., FMF, CAPS, TRAPS, Hyper IgD syndrome).
Dexamethasone Reduces Mortality in Severe COVID
Preliminary results released today shows dexamethasone (DEX), given to hospitalized, severly ill, COVID-19 patients, is capable of reducing mortality rates by one-third, with researchers calling this a “major breakthrough” in coronavirus management.
The results stem from a UK trial, called the RECOVERY trial, launched in March 2020, compared outcomes of around 2100 patients who were randomly assigned to DEX treatment compared with 4,300 patients not on DEX.
Atherosclerotic Events on the Decline in SLE
The prevalence of atherosclerotic vascular events among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) today is considerably lower than in the past, analysis of multicenter data found.
Among patients enrolled in an inception cohort from 1999 to 2017, only 3.6% of patients had an atherosclerotic vascular event, at a rate of 4.6 per 1,000 patient-years, according to Murray B. Urowitz, MD, of the University of Toronto in Canada, and colleagues.
Virtual EULAR 2020 Round Up
In this week's podcast, Drs. Artie Kavanaugh and Jack Cush present highlights from the virtual EULAR2020 meeting held June 3-6, 2020. Featured reports include the SELECT-CHOICE study, the EXCEED trial, Avacopan in AAV, BeST mortality outcomes, BLISS-LN study, biosimilars and tofa in systemic sclerosis.
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Day 3 - Top 5 from EULAR 2020
These were my top abstracts from Thursday, 4th of June at EULAR 2020:
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EULAR and ACR COVID19 Guidelines: Similarities Provide Reassurance
In difficult times, it's reassuring to reflect on the similarities that bring us together. In the case of the EULAR and ACR COVID19 guidelines as discussed at #EULAR2020 by Drs.
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First Look at COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance Registry
Gianfresco et al have published the first peer-reviewed analysis of COVID-19 infected, rheumatic disease patients entered into the Rheumatology Global Alliance registry; showing that a) rheumatic disease patient can be infected with COVID-19, b) that DMARD and biologic use has no apparent effect on outcomes and c) steroid increase and TNF inhibitor decrease the odds of hospitalization.
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RheumNow Podcast - Rheumatic Patients with COVID (5.29.20)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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TNR Grand Rounds - Cytokine Storm Syndromes
This week's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology featured Dr Randy Cron from the University of Alabama - Birmingham as he spoke and took questions on the immunology, immunopathogenesis and treatment of Cytokine Storm Syndrome, especially as they relate to COVID-19 and rheumatic disease patients. The program was moderated by Dr. Jack Cush.
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RheumNow Podcast - COVID Kids and Men (5.15.20)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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Kids' COVID-Linked Ailment Is Not Your Typical Kawasaki Disease
As data continue to emerge about a multi-system inflammatory disorder in children apparently connected to COVID-19, evidence is growing that this is not your typical Kawasaki disease.
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TNR Grand Rounds - What does COVID-19 have to do with Lupus?
Last night's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology featured Dr. Joan Merrill (OMRF). In her lecture, "What does COVID-19 have to do with lupus?", she discusses the pathogenesis of lupus, and specifically thrombotic microangiopathy, complementopathies, catastrophic lupus syndrome and the potential overlap with the vascular pathology seen with COVID-19 infection.
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New ACR Guidelines for Gout Management
The ACR has published the 2020 guidelines on the management of gout that includes strong recommendations favoring treat‐to‐target management and starting urate lowering therapy (ULT) for patients with frequent flares, radiographic damage or tophi due to gout.
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RheumNow Podcast – The Beat Goes On (5.8.20)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.
TNR Grand Rounds: IL-6 in Health and Disease
Dr. Len Calabrese from the Cleveland Clinic delivers this week's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology Grand Rounds, entitled "IL-6 in Health and Disease: Where Rheumatology Meets COVID-19".
Dr. Calabrese provides a comprehensive review of IL-6 biology, and discusses IL-6 signaling, IL-6 roles in health, exercise, infection, innate and adaptive immunity as pertains to both rheumatology and the management of coronavirus infection.
ACR: In-Person Urgent vs. Virtual Non-Urgent Medical Care
On April 26, 2020 the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) published a guidance paper to assist rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals in assessing the need for urgent or face-to-face medical care versus virtual or telehealth patient care. The driving principals being
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Cigarette Smoking and ANCA-Associated Vasculitis
JAMA Internal Medicine has reported that cigarette smoking associated with an increased odds of having antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitis (AAV) (especially MPO positive AAV) and is thereby a modifiable risk factor for AAV.
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German Society of Rheumatology COVID Pandemic Recommendations
The Annals of Rheumatic Disease has published the preliminary recommendations of the German Society of Rheumatology for the management of Inflammatory rheumatic diseases patients during the SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 pandemic.
These preliminary recommendations are based on an expert consensus from 17 experienced German rheumatologists.
IL-6 Inhibitors May Benefit COVID-19 Infection
In the last few days there have been encouraging "preliminary" reports that IL-6 inhibition by either tocilizumab or sarilumab may be efficacious in patients with severe coronavirus infections.
RheumNow Podcast – In Times of Trouble (4.24.20)
Dr Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports, twitter feed and COVID developments from the past week on RheumNow.com
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