Obesity Outweighs Psoriasis in Comorbidity Risk with Children

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Like their adult counterparts, psoriasis in children is an independent risk factor for comorbidity, but not as much as  obesity.

Anti-Drug Antibodies Partly Explain Secondary TNF Inhibitor Failures

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An observational study of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or spondyloarthritis (SpA) experiencing secondary failure to TNF inhibitor (TNFi) therapy showed that (secondary) loss of efficacy to a TNFi was associated with anti-drug antibodies in less than 30% of patients. 

Problems with Biologic Drug Storage

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Is your patient’s refrigerator the problem with the inefficacy of biologic therapies? Studies show most patients don't store their biologics correctly, which may be a source of limited drug efficacy.

Two Types of Osteoarthritis Based on Cartilage Studies

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A report from Annals of Rheumatic Diseases suggests that osteoarthritis (OA) may be two distinct diseases based on genetic studies of articular cartilage. (Citation source: https://buff.ly/2mNtUsL).

IL-1 and IL-6 Inhibition Preferred in Systemic JIA

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Since 2000, the German Biologics register (BiKeR) has prospectively enrolled children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis to assess outcomes with biologic therapies.  A new report evaluates the efficacy and safety of etanercept (ETA), tocilizumab (TOC) and the interleukin-1 inhibitors (anakin

Salt Drives Gut-Brain Connection via IL-17

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A study from Nature Neuroscience shows that a high salt diet may mediate neurovascular disease by altering microbiome and the expansion of TH17 cells in the small intestine, thereby increasing plasma interleukin-17 (IL-17) and its subsequent effects on endothelium in the brain.

Stroke Risk Confirmed in SLE

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The most common cerebrovascular events (CVEs) seen among a large cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were stroke and transient ischemia, and the majority of these events were attributable to the disease itself, a multinational study determined.

B Cell Changes Predict Autoimmunity with Checkpoint Inhibitors

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The Journal of Clinical Investigation reports results of a study showing that increases in CD21lo B cells and plasmablasts following that combination checkpoint blockade preceded the onset of immune-related adverse events.

While some have postulated that IRAEs are thought to be T cell mediated, B cells have also been implicated. Investigators studied 39 melanoma patients undergoing treatment with either anti-CTLA4 or anti-PD1, or combination CCB therapy. They analyzed changes in circulating B cells before and after the first cycle of therapy of immune checkpoint blockade (23 received combination therapy, 8 received anti-CTLA4, and 8 received anti-PD1).

Ibuprofen’s Anti-androgenic Effect May Result in Hypogonadism in Males

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PNAS reports use of ibuprofen by males may result in antiandrogen effects that may contribute to adult male reproductive problems.

Stem Cell Transplant Succeeds in Scleroderma

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Myeloablative autologous stem cell transplantation was significantly more effective than 12 months of cyclophosphamide among patients with severe scleroderma, an open-label multicenter study found.

Registry Efficacy of Rituximab in Refractory SLE

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Despite large randomized trials failing to show the efficacy of RTX in SLE (LUNAR, EXPLORER), uncontrolled observational data suggests possible efficacy and safety of RTX in refractory SLE.

FDA Approves Mepolizumab for Churg-Strauss (EGPA)

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved use of Nucala (mepolizumab) for use in treating adults with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), previously known as Churg-Strauss vasculitis. This is first FDA-approved therapy specifically to treat EGPA. 

Why TNF Inhibitors May Work in Some Autoinflammatory Patients

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The NLRP3 inflammasome is a critical component of the innate immune system and activation of NLRP3 inflammasome results in caspase-1–dependent secretion of the proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18.

The RheumNow Week in Review - 8 December 2017

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Dr. Jack Cush covers the news and journal articles published on RheumNow.comin the past week.

Thymus and Activation-Regulated Chemokine as Biomarker for IgG4-Related Disease

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High Volume Lyme Disease Reporting in Low Incidence Arkansas

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Even though Arkansas lies on the edge of the geographic range of the principal Lyme disease tick vector, Ixodes scapularis, the risk for Lyme infection is low, and no confirmed Lyme disease cases were reported in Arkansas during 2008–2014 (1)

Necroptosis Drives Netosis and ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

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PNAS reports that ANCA induced neutrophil activation, generation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETS), and vasculitis are regulated by necroptosis. Using inhibitors of necroptosis-inducing kinases they were able to prevent ANCA associated vasculitis (AAV) in animal models. 

CDC Endorses New Shingles Vaccine Over Zostavax

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The  U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) announced on 25 October they endorsed the use of the new GSK shingles vaccine (Shingrix) over the currently available live-virus vaccine (Zostavax) from Merck. 

Hepatitis A Outbreak in San Diego

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On Sept. 1, 2017, the San Diego County declared a local public health emergency due to the ongoing hepatitis A outbreak in the county.

Novel Gel Drug Delivery Developed for Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Scientists at the Institute for Basic Science have invented a hydrogel capable of delivering drug at sites of inflammation in disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis.