Infection in the setting of autoimmune rheumatic disease (ARD) has been the subject of increasing research and clinical interest for decades. Despite the huge burden of infection in patients with ARDs, this area of research has really been catapulted to the centre-stage of research agendas and coverage at congresses, including ACR 2020, with the arrival of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

ACR is but a few days away; the question is: how will you tackle this virtual meeting? RheumNow has created several options for learning the way you want to. First is to feed your need. Are you a lupologist? A gout maven? A Spondylitis sleuth? A drug safety wannabe?

A subanalysis of the CANTOS trial suggests that inhibition of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) can reduce rates of incident hip or knee replacement (THR/TKR) surgeries.

The MIRROR study, an open-label pilot trial in refractory, uncontrolled gout patients, showed that pegloticase given in combination with methotrexate was safe and effective and maintained responses for 6 months after initiation. 

In this third excerpt from the ACR guidelines on managing reproductive health issues in rheumatic disease patients, we present recommendations regarding the use of glucocorticoids and guidance on lactation and medication use post-partum.

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week. Of mice and men in cartilage, the efficacy of JAK inhibitors in patients who are having skin problems, nrAxSpa has its own diagnostic code, metformin, talking about Back Talk, plus so much more.