FDA Approves Anifrolumab in SLE

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AstraZeneca announced today that anifrolumab (Saphnelo or anifrolumab-fnia) was approved by the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for that treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who are receiving standard therapy.  

DMARD Effects on COVID-19 Outcomes

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Sparks and colleagues have published data from the Global Rheumatology Alliance noting that among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients afflicted with COVID-19 infection, there was little influence of their baseline biologic or targeted synthetic (b/ts) disease-modifying antirheumatic drug

Rare Myocarditis Risk following COVID-19 Vaccine

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MMWR review of the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis reports a June 23, 2021 recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination clearly outweighed the risks of myocarditis after vaccination. 

ICYMI: 2020 Rheumatology Year in Review

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2020 was historic, memorable and game-changing. Under the cloud of COVID-19, there were many significant and memorable advances and setbacks for the rheumatology world. In our accounting of most read articles for 2020, (not surprisingly) 17/20 were COVID-related.

The Potential of Rituximab Efficacy in Systemic Sclerosis

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Rituximab (RTX) has been in the news a lot lately; more surprisingly for its potential benefits in progressive systemic sclerosis (SSc).

Ebata and colleagues have published the results of a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial comparing intravenous RTX to placebo in 56 SSc patients. Patients had to have a modified Rodnan Skin Score (mRSS) of 10 or more. The primary endpoint was the change in mRSS at 24 weeks. 

RheumNow Podcast - EULAR 2021 & EULAR-IQ (6.4.21)

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Dr Jack Cush reviews highlight presentations from the first 3 days of EULAR 2021.

Tocilizumab Augmented Efficacy in COVID-19 Pneumonia with High CRP

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JAMA Internal Medicine report an analysis of recent and composite trial data suggesting that tocilizumab (TCZ) therapy in COVID-19–associated pneumonia patients with high CRP levels is likely to be effective.

RheumNow Live 2021 Now Available for All

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RheumNow Live (RNL) for 2021 was held March 20 - 21 in Fort Worth, TX, and now all can partake in the meeting - by video, podcast or by signing up for Tuesday Nite Rheumatology (TNR).

Unique Oral Microbiome in Early and Pre-Clinical RA

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An oral microbiome study of rheumatoid arthritis patients suggests that periodontal condition in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis and individuals at risk of RA.

Autoimmune Thyroid Disease in Women

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JAMA has posted an insights article reviewing autoimmune thyroid disease in women. Thyroid autoimmunity has a higher prevalence in women and with increasing age.

Similar to many autoimmune disorders, thyroid disease is more common in women than in men.