In the last 2 years, there has been more caution and vigilance with the use of JAK inhibitors in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis due to the risk of CV events, including MACE and VTE. The ORAL surveillance study, a post-approval safety study conducted in RA patients aged ≥50 years with ≥1 CV risk factor, has resulted in increased caution and greater emphasis on assessment of MACE and VTE risks in patients starting JAK inhibitors. 

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a severe extra articular manifestation of RA, with limited treatment strategies and poor prognosis.

Treatment of osteoarthritis is a major unmet need, as there are few therapies effective at pain control and no options for disease modification; yet a new trial in Annals of Internal Medicine suggest that chronic low dose colchicine may alter disease progression and lower the risk of of total knee and total hip replacements.

Dr. Jack Cush reviews more than a dozen news, journal articles and RNL highlights from this past week on RheumNow.com.

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.  This week we delve into some odd associations, repeat drug warnings and the consequences of antirheumatic therapies.

Eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) is a rare form of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, affecting between 10 and 14 cases per million globally. This adult disorder has a mean age at diagnosis of nearly 50 years and affects both sexes equally, presenting with pulmonary symptoms (asthma), eosinophilia and granulomatous or vasculitic involvement of several organs. A multidisciplinary, multinational European group has developed evidence-based, guidelines for the diagnosis and management of EGPA, intended to include recent advances.

This week on the Podcast Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles, including the risks of dying, developing RA or autoimmune disease!

A cohort study analyzed the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in dermatomyositis (DM) patients treated with intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG).

New research highlights potential safety concerns around women taking romosozumab, a new anti-osteoporosis drug available on the NHS.

On the final day of ACR 2023 State of the Art Conference, Dr. Paul Cremer reviewed pericarditis management. Dr. Cremer, a cardiologist at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, reviewed the questions patients ask about pericarditis including why the disease develops, will it recur, how is it treated, and what will their treatment duration be.