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RheumNow Podcast – COVID-19 Responds to Steroids (7.24.20)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the News and Journal Reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.
Read ArticleTocilizumab May Benefit COVID-19 Pneumonia
A retrospective, observational study published in Lancet Rheumatology has shown that tocilizumab (TCZ) may reduce the risk of death or the need for mechanical ventilation in severe COVID-19 pneumonia. This observational study included adults, with severe COVID-19 pneumonia, who were hospitalized between Feb 21 and March 24, 2020. All were on the standard of care (ie, supplemental oxygen, hydroxychloroquine, azithromycin, antiretrovirals, and low molecular weight heparin), and a non-randomly selected subset of patients also received TCZ.
Read ArticleACR Outlines Best Practices for Kids With MIS-C
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) associated with COVID-19 infection has both similarities and differences with Kawasaki disease, and requires distinct clinical management, according to draft guidance from the American College of Rheumatology (ACR).
Read ArticleRheumNow Podcast – Enough Already with Weaning (6.19.20)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.
Read ArticleCanakinumab 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).
Day 3 - Top 5 from EULAR 2020
These were my top abstracts from Thursday, 4th of June at EULAR 2020:
Read ArticleEULAR 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.
Read ArticleTNR Grand Rounds - Update on Biosimilars
This week's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology featured Dr Jonathan Kay (U Mass) who gave an update on Biosimilars and took questions the subject. The program was moderated by Dr. Jack Cush.
Read ArticleFirst 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.
Read ArticleRheumNow Podcast - Rheumatic Patients with COVID (5.29.20)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
Read ArticleTNR 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.
Read ArticleHigh Dose Anakinra Effective in COVID-19
Anakinra was studied in 29 COVID(+) patients with respiratory distress and high inflammatory markers (CRP or ferritin) and compared to non-anakinra patients, those on anakinra had better survival (90% vs. 56% ;p=0·009) and greater improvements in CRP and pulmonary function (72% vs 50%) compared to controls at day 21.
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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
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Retrospective cohort of 147 Adult-Onset Stills Dz pts finds 18 (12.3%) with lung dz (LD) at the diagnosis of AOSD. AOSD-LD were older, w/ more myalgia, LN, pleuritis, ab,dominal pain, more systemic Dz, higher ferritin and more mortality (%39 vs 10%). https://t.co/2phEFwi6n2
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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)
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k dao KDAO2011 ( View Tweet)
14 pts refractory AOSD pts (Yamaguchi+) showed a good response to usual doses of tofacitinib. 7/14 complete remission, 6/14 partial remission & 1 relapse w/ pred reduction. May work by reducing reducing IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ, IFN-α, GM-CSF, neutrophils. https://t.co/rUNoxJdDi5
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