COVID Breakthrough Infections in Rheumatic Patients

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Analysis of records from the Mass General Brigham healthcare system in the Boston area, shows that breakthrough infections (after receiving SARS-CoV-2 vaccines) in patients with systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs) are not uncommon, and may be severe or fatal.

ICYMI: The Greatest Rheumatologist - Part II

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Wow! I hope you read part I of yesterday's “Greatest Rheumatologist” article.  So many big names and yet, other names and stories that were equally inspirational.

If you read the comments of the part I article you can clearly see several themes emerge.

ICYMI: The Greatest Rheumatologist - Part I

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Who is the greatest rheumatologist? What makes for a great rheum? Is it clinical acumen, scientific achievement, educational prowess or years of unrivaled service or mentoring? Rheumatologists are quite opinionated on this subject and very nostalgic about their mentors and leaders. When I’ve posed this question in small groups, it’s plain to see how moved they become when discussing mentors or peers who influenced them. Thus, I posed this question to many of our leaders and mentors: who do you think of as the greatest rheumatologist?

RheumNow Podcast – JAK Inhibitor Warnings from the FDA

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FDA JAK inhibitor warnings and what it means (also: what do you think?); other news released this week; and, two questions submitted from listeners. Dr. Cush discusses this and more in this week's podcast.

Expert Panel: Initial Views on FDA Warnings for JAK Inhibitors

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Dr. Jack Cush is joined by Drs. Roy Fleischmann (Dallas), Allan Gibofsky (NYC), and Artie Kavanaugh (San Diego) to discuss the 9/2/21 FDA Drug Safety Communication regarding the cardiovascular and cancer risks arising from the Pfizer 1133 (ORAL Surveillance) tofacitinib study, but also applied to baricitinib and upadacitinib.

FDA: New Cardiac and Cancer Warnings for All JAK Inhibitors

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Today, Sept.1st, the FDA announced its decision regarding tofacitinib's safety concerns from the Oral Surveillance study - handing down warnings for not only Pfizer's JAK inhibitor, but also for other marketed JAK inhibitors from AbbVie and Eli Lilly & Co.

These safety concerns arise from the Oral Surveillance study - a large, post-marketing, safety trial of tofacitinib versus adalimumab in high risk patients. New warnings about the risks of cardiac events, death and cancer will appear as a revision to the "boxed warnings" in the product label (package insert) for all JAK inhibitors - tofacitinib, baricitinib and upadacitinib. 

TNF Inhibitor Induced IgA Vasculitis in IBD

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A new descriptive series shows an uncommon association between IgA vasculitis (IgAV) and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), with most cases interestingly arising after  or during anti-TNF-α therapy.

Drug Choices After First TNF Inhibitor in RA

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TNFi are frequently used first line in RA patients; and a new analysis shows that repeat use of TNFi dominates over the use of non-TNFi biologics when the initial TNFi therapy has failed. This retrospective analysis of commercial insurance records analyzed the patterns of drug use in adult RA patients who switched to their second biologic or targeted disease-modifying antirheumatic drug.

RheumNow Podcast – COVID Marching Amidst the Madness (8.27.2021)

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We have a lot of news, information and approvals to review and discuss, though I need to begin with what's weighing heavily on my mind. After, we'll dive into what we learned this week.

ACR Guidance on Timing of 3rd Dose Booster with Immunomodulatory Drugs

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The American College of Rheumatology has issued an updated version of its COVID-19 Vaccine Clinical Guidance for Patients with Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases following recent recommendations from the CDC that certain immunocompromised patients receive a third dose of an availabl

Biologic Therapy of Psoriasis May Prevent Psoriatic Arthritis

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Another retrospective cohort study has shown that biologic treatment of psoriasis may reduce the subsequent incidence of psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

RheumNow Podcast – Driving in Pain (8.20.2021)

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You know, I'm a very good driver. We all think we're great drivers - but consider what it's like to drive in pain: would you be a good driver? Also, I want you to consider the diagnosis of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate disease (CPPD). But first, let's look at a study out of Scotland, looking at military service and greater risk of hip and knee replacement.

Oligoarticular vs. Polyarticular Psoriatic Arthritis

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A psoriatic arthritis (PsA) cohort analysis reveals many similarities and few distinctions between those who present with oligoarticular and polyarticular PsA.