Benefit of Achieving Target Serum Urate Levels in Gout with Chronic Kidney Disease

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A cohort study of gout patients with CKD stage 3 found that lowering serum urate (SUA) level to less than 6 mg/dL, lowered the risk for severe or end-stage kidney disease progression.

ICYMI: VITAL Info on Autoimmune Disease (2.9.2024)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Highlights are summarized by three songs: "Stairway to Heaven", "You're No Good", and "How Long (has this been going on)".

Best of 2024: Upside/Downside of Steroids in Lupus Nephritis

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A systematic review of randomized clinical trials of patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis demonstrates both the benefits and harms to early glucocorticoid regimens on lupus outcomes.

Best of 2024: Mixed Long-term Effects of Calcium and Vitamin D in Postmenopausal Women

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A follow-up analysis of a randomized clinical trial found that the use of calcium and vitamin D supplements among postmenopausal women was associated with decreased risk for cancer mortality, but increased risk for cardiovascular disease mortality. The analysis is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Best of 2024: Good Clinical Practice Recommendations on Glucocorticoid Withdrawal and Adrenal Insufficiency

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Glucocorticoids are widely prescribed as anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents. This results in at least 1% of the population using chronic glucocorticoid therapy being at risk for glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency. This risk is dependent on the dose, duration and potency of the glucocorticoid, route of administration, and individual susceptibility.

Best of 2024: 13 Risk Factors for RA-associated Interstitial Lung Disease

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Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most widespread and fatal pulmonary complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A recent metanalysis shows the pooled prevalence of RA-ILD was approximately 18.7%.

Best of 2024: Pain Reduction with Methotrexate in Knee Osteoarthritis

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The Annals of Internal Medicine reports that oral, low dose, weekly methotrexate significantly reduced knee osteoarthritis pain, stiffness, and function in a randomized controlled trial.

Best of 2024: Analgesic Prescribing in Patients with Inflammatory Arthritis

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A UK cross-sectional EHR clinical practice analysis between 2004 and 2020 shows that analgesic prescribing in inflammatory arthritis patients has declined, but still remains substantial, including opioid prescribing. Data was drawn from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum to evaluate analgesic prescription annual prevalence in patients with RA, PsA and axSpA and found that analgesic prescribing declined over time but remained common.

Bah Humbug Vitamin D (12.20.2024)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.

Abuse of the Safety-Net 340B Drug Programs

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Dr. Madelaine Feldman has written an important commentary on the 340B Drug Pricing Program, a safety-net program that would allow vulnerable populations to receive expensive new therapies. But she points out that "this well-intentioned program has strayed from its original purpose", allowing certain hospitals and for-profit pharmacies to exploit the program.

Tocilizumab Efficacy in Giant Cell Arteritis Phenotypes

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Biosimilars Do Impact Biologic Drug Costs

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Introduction of biosimilars for the rheumatology drug adalimumab, whose original branded version Humira has long been a blockbuster, appears to have led to a dramatic drop in net spending for these products -- even though biosimilars barely dented Humira prescription rates.

54K Peptic Ulcers Annually (12.13.2024)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com

Safety of Acetaminophen in the Elderly

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New research, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, has found that repeated doses of paracetamol in people aged 65 and over, can lead to an increased risk of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal complications.

Treat-to-Target LLDAS in Lupus

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Patients with highly active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) appeared to sustain much less organ damage and fewer disease flares when drug therapy yielded substantial relief, researchers found.