Abatacept Most Effective Early and in Seropositive RA

Save

An open-label, 2 year study evaluated the efficacy and safey (drug retention) of subcutaneous (SC) abatacept (ABA) in active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and showed superior responses when ABA was given to biologic-naive and seropositive RA patients. 

Still’s Disease FAQs

Save

What is the classic 'triad' of Still's disease? Does it affect males and females equally? What are typical lab findings? Which drugs are effective at treating Still's, and as importantly, which ones are not? What about complications? Read on for these and other FAQs regarding Still's disease.

MRP8/14 as a Biomarker in Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Save

A large cohort study of children with febrile disorders has demonstrated the diagnostic utility of Myeloid-related protein 8/14 (MRP8/14) in diagnosing systemic JIA patients (SJIA) in clinical practice.

MTX + Pegloticase Combo FDA Approved

Save

Horizon has announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the expanded labeling of pegloticase (Krystexxa) injection to be co-administered with methotrexate (MTX), to improve response rates in patients with uncontrolled gout.

Rheumatic Associated Macrophage Activation Syndrome

Save

Macrophage Activation Syndrome (MAS) is a hyperinflammatory condition that has a significant mortality risk and may arise in patients with rheumatic disease.

ICYMI: Allopurinol Safety in CKD Patients

Save

A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine reports chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients can be safely treated with allopurinol without an increased risk of mortality.

CC Genotype and Thiopurine Toxicity

Save

Annals of Internal Medicine reports that thiopurine toxcicity risk is associated with the "CC" genotype and that azathioprine discontinuation was associated with hematopoietic toxicity and lower thiopurine doses. 

Two Week Twitter (6.17.2022)

Save

Dr. Jack Cush does a 2-week review of RheumNow Tweets on news and journal citations worth noting, along with some opinions on Telehealth, manpower, monkeypox and the price of drugs.

Improved Pregnancy Outcomes in SLE (2010–2020)

Save

A retrospective cohort study has shown that outcomes in pregnant systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients has significantly improved in the last decade, but there still is a high risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO).

Gout Undertreatment Persists

Save

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

Save

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

Save

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

Save

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)

Save

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?

Save

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)

Save

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

Save

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

Save

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)

Save

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.