Gout Undertreatment Persists

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Despite updated gout management guidelines from European (EULAR) and British (BSR) societies, treatment of gout is suboptimal with regard to the use of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) and normalizing serum uric acid (< 6.0 mg/dl) levels.

Topical therapies take centre stage

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Topical treatments have so often been the low level “sure you can try this” option. However there are exciting data that these approaches may become part of our main armamentarium. 

EULAR 2022 – Day 3 Report

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By now, those of us attending the meeting know how to find a free coffee or sprite, have found comfortable meeting nooks and know our way around! PAnd congrats to you virtual Rheums for mastering the multi-screen, multitask simultaneous consumption posters, tweets and oral abstract presentations.

RNL 2022: Rheumatoid Arthritis - Best Management

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This week's Tuesday Night Rheumatology, hosted by Dr. Jack Cush, featured highlights from the 2022 RheumNow Live Rheumatoid Arthritis - Best Management Pod, followed by a lively audience Q & A. Lectures featured:

Recommendations – Good & Bad (5.27.2022)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, regulatory updates and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week gout worries, mortality risks, measuring anti-drug antibodies and a better way in lupus?

To TDM or Not in Rheumatology?

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Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM), especially for biologic therapies, has become a standard in gastroenterology, but shunned by most rheumatologists.

The Inflammation Reflex (5.20.2022)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week, neuroimmunology leading to therapy, the cold shoulder approach and Regulatory updates from the FDA.

Rising Incidence of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

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Data from Olmstead county, MN over the past four decades shows that the incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is increasing.

SLE was diagnosed using the EULAR/ACR criteria and looked at patients seen between 1976–2018.

Acute Inflammatory Responses Needed to Resolve Chronic Pain

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Science Translational Medicine has published results of a Canadian study of low back pain (LBP) suggests that pain control by anti-inflammatory treatments might have negative effects on pain duration and may be counterproductive for long-term pain outcomes.

Methotrexate Monitoring (5.13.2022)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Bad news for digitial ulcers in Systemic sclerosis, Readmissions in Lupus and Thrombocytopenia in APL patients.

Can You Reduce Frequency of Methotrexate Monitoring?

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Observational research presented at the British Society for Rheumatology meeting suggest that, based on the COVID-19 pandemic experience, reduced frequency of routine lab monitoring in patients receiving weekly methotrexate therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was not associated with an increase in adverse outcomes.

ASCORE: Seropositivity Favors Abatacept Drug Survival

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The ASCORE (Abatacept SubCutaneOus in Routine clinical practicE) study evaluated efficacy, safety, and drug retention (durability) of abatacept (ABA) moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and found consistently better ABA durability in those who were seropositive. 

Making You the Expert of You! (Smart Rules for Patients)

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You’ve scheduled an appointment with your medical provider - how do you make the most of it? We've gathered these tips and suggestions to share with patients.

Allopurinol Use Does Not Increase Mortality in Gout with Chronic Kidney Disease

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A population based trial has shown that allopurinol use dose escalation and achieving target uric acid levels (with allopurinol), was not associated with increased mortality in patients with gout and concurrent CKD

Arthritis Predicts Hepatic Fibrosis in Hemochromatosis

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Mayo Clinic Proceedings reports the results of a retrospective, cross-sectional of patients with HFE hemochromatosis showing that advanced hepatic fibrosis is primarily seen in those with arthritis due to HFE hemochromatosis. 

TNR - Controversies in PsA

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Held on April 19, 2022, Tuesday Night Rheumatology: Controversies in PsA, featured a lively and informative panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Jack Cush.

The PsA Expert panelists included:

Male vs. Female Responders (4.15.2022)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal Reports from the past week on RheumNow.com - including fellowship COVID-19 concerns, the limits of T2T in gout and the real odds of RA remission with your first biologic. 

No Benefit to More Intensive Urate Lowering in Gout

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While treat-to-target (T2T) is commonly advocated in gout management, it is unknown if T2T (or more intensive T2T) may result in less bony erosions in gout.