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EULAR 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 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 ArticleRheumNow Podcast - COVID Kids and Men (5.15.20)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
Read ArticleKids' COVID-Linked Ailment Is Not Your Typical Kawasaki Disease
As data continue to emerge about a multi-system inflammatory disorder in children apparently connected to COVID-19, evidence is growing that this is not your typical Kawasaki disease.
Read ArticleTNR Grand Rounds - What does COVID-19 have to do with Lupus?
Last night's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology featured Dr. Joan Merrill (OMRF). In her lecture, "What does COVID-19 have to do with lupus?", she discusses the pathogenesis of lupus, and specifically thrombotic microangiopathy, complementopathies, catastrophic lupus syndrome and the potential overlap with the vascular pathology seen with COVID-19 infection.
Read ArticleNew ACR Guidelines for Gout Management
The ACR has published the 2020 guidelines on the management of gout that includes strong recommendations favoring treat‐to‐target management and starting urate lowering therapy (ULT) for patients with frequent flares, radiographic damage or tophi due to gout.
Read ArticleRheumNow Podcast – The Beat Goes On (5.8.20)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.
TNR Grand Rounds: IL-6 in Health and Disease
Dr. Len Calabrese from the Cleveland Clinic delivers this week's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology Grand Rounds, entitled "IL-6 in Health and Disease: Where Rheumatology Meets COVID-19".
Dr. Calabrese provides a comprehensive review of IL-6 biology, and discusses IL-6 signaling, IL-6 roles in health, exercise, infection, innate and adaptive immunity as pertains to both rheumatology and the management of coronavirus infection.
ACR: In-Person Urgent vs. Virtual Non-Urgent Medical Care
On April 26, 2020 the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) published a guidance paper to assist rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals in assessing the need for urgent or face-to-face medical care versus virtual or telehealth patient care. The driving principals being
Read ArticleCigarette Smoking and ANCA-Associated Vasculitis
JAMA Internal Medicine has reported that cigarette smoking associated with an increased odds of having antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitis (AAV) (especially MPO positive AAV) and is thereby a modifiable risk factor for AAV.
Read ArticleGerman Society of Rheumatology COVID Pandemic Recommendations
The Annals of Rheumatic Disease has published the preliminary recommendations of the German Society of Rheumatology for the management of Inflammatory rheumatic diseases patients during the SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 pandemic.
These preliminary recommendations are based on an expert consensus from 17 experienced German rheumatologists.
IL-6 Inhibitors May Benefit COVID-19 Infection
In the last few days there have been encouraging "preliminary" reports that IL-6 inhibition by either tocilizumab or sarilumab may be efficacious in patients with severe coronavirus infections.
RheumNow Podcast – In Times of Trouble (4.24.20)
Dr Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports, twitter feed and COVID developments from the past week on RheumNow.com
Read ArticleCOVID-19 and the Slippery Road of Cytokine Storms
Early reports on the COVID-19 pandemic allude to a cytokine storm or hyper-inflammation, especially in patients who succumbed to the illness.
Read ArticleTuesday Nite Rheumatology Grand Rounds - Febrile Disorders
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the appproach to evaluating fever in adults suspected of having a rheumatic disease, Stills disease or autoinflammatory conditions.
Read ArticleACR COVID-19 Guidance for Rheumatic Disease Patients
On April 11th, the ACR Board of Directors approved a COVID-19 guidance document written by an ACR task force charged with updating and clarifying recommendations for rheumatologists and rheumatic disease patient management during the current COVID-19 crisis.
Read ArticleRheumNow Podcast – Pandemic Numbers (4.3.20)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news on COVID-19 and FDA actions this past week. Be sure to check out:
Read ArticleIn Vasculitis, Beware of Infection
Risks of infection were strikingly high among patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated (ANCA) vasculitis, which may relate to both the disease and its treatment, Scottish researchers found.
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