New EULAR Guidelines on Behçet's

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At the EULAR 2016 meeting, new EULAR recommendations for the management of Behçet's disease (BD) were presented.

Ixekizumab Success with the UNCOVER Trials in Psoriasis

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The NEJM today published the results of two phase-3 trials (UNCOVER-2 and UNCOVER-3) demonstrating the efficacy of ixekizumab (a monoclonal antibody against interleukin-17A) in the treatment of moderate-to-severe psoriasis.

Mosquito Arthritis

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In the last two years there have been increasing reports of mosquito-borne infectious arthritides.  Dengue fever was best known until the introduction of viral infections due to chikungunya and Zika. 

TB Management Questions

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The following is a compilation of several frequently asked questions regarding tuberculosis (TB) testing or treatment in patients on a TNF inhibitor (TNFi) or other biologic agents.

Secukinumab Improves Patient-Reported Outcomes in Psoriatic Arthritis (FUTURE 1)

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Secukinumab (Cosentyx) has recently been approved for use in ankylosing spondylitis and psoriatic arthritis; the latter largely based on the FUTURE 2 and the just reported FUTURE 1 clinical trial. FUTURE 1 demonstrates the efficacy and safety of secukinumab, with inital weekly intravenous loading, given monthly as a subcutaneous injection. 

The RheumNow Week in Review – 6 May 2016

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Watch Dr. Cush discuss the highlights from this week on RheumNow.com.

Poor Outcomes for Dermato/Polymyositis Admitted to ICU

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Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) may be complicated with life-threatening conditions requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission.  The outcomes of such complications may be dire, but there are few series addressing the outcomes of those admitted to the ICU. 

HLA-B*5801 Testing Needed in Asians and Blacks with Gout

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Choi and colleagues analyzed US hospitalizations (2009–2013) to assess the frequency and racial distribution of patients hospitalized with Stevens-Johnson Syndrome (SJS) and Toxic Epidermal Necrolysis (TEN) related to the use of urate-lowering (ULT) therapy (predominantly allopurinol).

Does Psoriasis Increase Risk of Abdominal Aneurysm?

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Danish researchers studied a cohort of 59,423 mild psoriasis and 11,566 severe psoriasis patients over a 14 year period, and found 240 and 50 cases of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA), repectively. (Citation source http://buff.ly/1YxGpDA)

RheumNow Week in Review - 8 April 2016

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the rheumatology highlights from the news, media, and journals from this past week:

Tofacitinib Efficacy Revealed in OPAL Study

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Pfizer has issued a press release of its preliminary results from the OPAL study that examined the efficacy and safety of tofacitinib 5 mg and 10 mg twice daily (BID) in adults active psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Severe Psoriasis Associated with a Renal Disease Risk

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There have been several reports of psoriasis being linked to chronic renal disease in the literature. Another population-based study has also found a link between severe psoriasis and kidney disease. 

Incidence of Psoriatic Arthritis Among Psoriasis Patients

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Researchers at the University of Toronto have prospectively studied a cohort of 464 psoriasis patients without a diagnosis of arthritis and followed them over 8 years to estimate the incidence and frequency of psoriatic arthritis (PsA). 

Week in Review - 25 March 2016

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1. phase 3, BRIDGE study shows romosozumab (anti-sclerostin MAb) significantly increases lumbar BMD in men with osteoporosis


2. Statin use is associated with a 21% increased risk of skin cancer (NMSC) - data

FDA Approves Taltz for Psoriasis

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Tuesday the FDA approved the IL-17 inhibitor, Taltz (ixekizumab) for adults with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. (Citation source http://buff.ly/1py10wd) 

Ixekizumab Superior to Etanercept in Psoriasis

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The UNCOVER-2 and UNCOVER-3 trials were presented at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Annual Meeting taking this week in Washington, D.C.

Subclinical Synovitis in Psoriasis Portends Future Psoriatic Arthritis

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It is estimated that nearly 30% of psoriasis patients will develop psoriatic arthritis (PsA).  This prevalence was studied by performing MRI scans on asymptomatic psoriasis (n=56) and 30 control patients without arthritis. 

Challenges of Dermatomyositis Progress

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In the current issue of Lancet, Pierre Miossec discusses the challenges of studying and managing juvenile dermatomyositis and, specifically, the

Rheumatoid Arthritis, TNF inhibitors and the Risk of Skin Cancer

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are said to have a neutral risk for neoplasia, but this is because they have a lower risk of colon cancer and breast cancer but a higher risk of lung cancer, lymphoma and skin cancers.

Secukinumab Shows Efficacy in Two Ankylosing Spondylitis Trials

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NEJM has published the results of two studies wherein IL-17 inhibition with secukinumab (SEC) was shown to be effective in patients with anklylosing spondylitis.