Systemic Sclerosis Insights (9.13.2024)

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

Increasing Incidence of Morphea

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A large EMR derived cohort study of over 10,000 patients with morphea (localized scleroderma) sheds light on its prevalence and associated features.

ACR Speaks Against Repeated Cuts to Medicare Reimbursements

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The American College of Rheumatology has submitted its comments to the CMS regarding the proposed CY 2025 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program rule and its impact on rheumatologists and rheumatology interprofessional team members’ ability to provide care to the 53 million Americans living with rheumatic disease.

Low Placental Transfer Rates with Risankizumab

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There are significant concerns about the safety of drug use during pregnancy and lactation, especially newer biologic agents. This is complicated by a lack of research. 

ACR Recommends QOL Self-Management Strategies

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American College of Rheumatology (ACR) experts identified research suggesting that patient self-management is not a

Consensus Guidelines on Pediatric Methotrexate Use

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Methotrexate (MTX) is commonly used in the treatment of pediatric inflammatory skin conditions, often for off-label indications. Consensus based recommendations were published to address 5 major subjects.

Moving Forward on RA Prevention Trials

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Now that multiple prevention clinical trials for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have been completed, a group of investigators have reviewed the results and published their recommendations for future trial designs and drug development to assess interventions that may alter disease development.

Conservative Treatment of Acute Vertebral Fractures

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A network meta-analysis of pain outcomes in patients with acute osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures (VCFs) showed short-term success with calcitonin and NSAIDs in decreasing pain during activity, but long-term benefits were superior for teriparatide compared to bisphosphonates.

Linger on the Fingers (9.6.2024)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week with a focus on fingers and better prescriptive follow through.

CAR-T Like Effects with Bispecific Teclistamab

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A new chapter may have begun in the exciting story of "immune reset" therapy for difficult-to-treat autoimmune diseases, with a patient with severe refractory lupus obtaining drug-free remission after treatment with an antibody product normally used in multiple myeloma.

Does Rheumatoid Factor Influence Anti-TNF Responses in RA?

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Smolen and colleagues have published a subanalysis of the EXXELERATE study that showed while certolizumab pegol [CZP] concentrations and efficacy was unaffected by high titers of rheumatoid factor (RF), patients treated with adalimumab had a blunted response in the face of high RF titers.

Immunomodulatory Prevention of Uveitis Relapse in Behçet's

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The results of a randomised, open-label, head-to-head trial shows that adalimumab was superior to ciclosporin in preventing uveitis relapses in patients with severe Behçet's disease.

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.

Sustained Hydroxychloroquine and Cardiovascular Outcomes

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A national cohort study shows that continuous use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) protects agains cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Consumption of Alcohol and the Risk of Gout

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Alcohol is a risk factor for gout and flares. While the inciting potential differs among alcohol types, are these differences sex specific?

Diagnosing Seronegative Sjogren's Disease

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Sjögren disease (SjD) is highly prevalent, but diagnosis may be challenged if anti-SSA antibodies or a labial salivary gland biopsy are negative. A recent cohort analysis suggests a novel autoantibody profile has predictive value SSA negative SjD and also in those with a positive labial biopsy.

IV Methylprednisolone in Giant Cell Arteritis

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A retrospective study in giant cell arteritis (GCA) patients suggests there is no added value using higher dose, intravenous methylprednisolone (IVMP) in early GCA.

Antibiotics May Increase Inflammatory Arthritis Risk

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Birth Control Use in Lupus

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Published guidelines on lupus management urge that female patients plan and prepare carefully for pregnancy, and use contraceptives when it's not intended -- but these recommendations are only rarely followed, a registry study suggested.

ACR Backs FDA Rule Change on Interchangeable Biosimilars

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The American College of Rheumatology submitted comments to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration supporting their recent proposal to update the approval process for biosimilars’ interchangeability status by repealing the requirement for switching studies while also encouraging the FDA to continue monitoring the downstream effects of this policy to ensure transparency for patients and prescribing providers.