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Predicting Spondylitis in At-Risk Relatives
The risk of developing axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) if you’re a first-degree relative (FDRs) of an ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patient has been deflined by a 35 year follow-up study showing that if you are a FDR of axSpA you may be at higher risk of acute anterior uveitis (AAU).
Read ArticleRheumNow Live is Coming to Town (3.11.2022)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
Read ArticlePsoriatic Arthritis Responds to Tyk2 inhibition with Deucravacitinib
Deucravacitinib, a selective tyrosine kinase 2 (TYK2) inhibitor, was studied in a phase II trial of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients and shown to be effective and safe.
Read ArticleCould Anifrolumab Work in Lupus Nephritis?
Anifrolumab is effective and FDA approved for use in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); and now, a trial in lupus nephritis that almost shows benefit.
Read ArticleKawasaki Disease Guideline from ACR and Vasculitis Foundation
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR), in partnership with the Vasculitis Foundation (VF), released a new guideline for the management of Kawasaki disease that addresses diagnostic issues relating to Kawasaki disease, the treatment of high-risk patients, and the management of
Read ArticleBaricitinib’s COVID-19 Efficacy in the RECOVERY Trial
Pre-print results of the RECOVERY Trial has shown that when baricitinib (BAR) is given to hospitalized severe COVID-19 patients, it results in significantly less mortality.
Read ArticleFailed Osteoarthritis Pulse Ultrasound Study
A promising therapy aimed at halting and even reversing the pathology underlying osteoarthritis (OA) of the knee failed to show any benefit in a randomized trial.
Read ArticleTocilizumab Works Best in Non-Mechanical Ventilated COVID-19 Patients
JAMA has published a meta-analysis of 15 studies of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 treated with tocilizumab and corticosteroids, showing that a clinically meaningful mortality benefit from tocilizumab (and steroids) was best seen in those not requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV).
Read ArticleACR Guidelines for the Treatment of Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis
The ACR has updated its clinical guidelines for the management of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), with this update focusing on oligoarthritis, TMJ arthritis, and systemic JIA (with and without macrophage activation syndrome); only the latter, systemic JIA recommendations are reported he
Read ArticleDrug Survival Differences in RA, PsA, SpA and PsO
Drug survival may be the best measure of efficacy and safety. A new study of novel therapy durability (survival) in patients with RA, axial spondyloarthritis, PsA, and psoriasis shows that while all these drugs are approved for said conditions, drug survival varies by condition, suggesting an ongoing need for individualized treatment.
Read ArticleSpondyloarthritis in Early Crohn's Disease
Analysis of a German Crohn's disease cohort finds that in patients with early Crohn’s disease (CD), spondyloarthritis was present in nearly one out of five patients and was associated with HLA-B27 positivity and a highly active CD.
Read ArticleIncreased SLE Flares with Hydroxychloroquine Reduction
Concerns about the long-term safety of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) often results in dose reduction or drug discontinuation; yet a current study shows that, for those in remission, HCQ taper/discontinuation resulted in a significantly higher rate of SLE flares.
Read ArticleUpdated ACR/AAHKS Guidelines on Drug Use in Knee & Hip Arthroplasty Patients
The American College of Rheumatology and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons released a summary of their updated guideline for the Perioperative Management of Antirheumatic Medication in Patients with Rheumatic Diseases Undergoing Elective Total Hip or Total Knee Arthroplasty.
Read ArticleDownside of Holding Methotrexate with COVID-19 Vaccination
A recent prospective, randomized, blinded clinical trial has shown that a 2 week hold of methotrexate (MTX) following COVID-19 (Sinovac-CoronaVac) vaccination resulted in greater anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunogenicity; but there was an increase in flare rates after the second dose of vaccine.
Read ArticleDiagnostic Delay in Axial Spondyloarthritis (2.25.2022)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week, rheumatologic problems incited by respiratory infections, air pollution and how you live, now where you live.
Read ArticleCOSMOS Study - Guselkumab Efficacy at 1 Year in Psoriatic Arthritis
Guselkumab, an IL-2319-subunit antibody, was studied in active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients who had a previously inadequate response (IR) to tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) and after 1 year was shown to significantly improved joint and skin manifestations and physical function.
Read ArticleACR Addresses Racial Disparities in Lupus Trials
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is launching two new initiatives to reduce racial disparities in lupus clinical trials: Training to Increase Minority Enrollment in Lupus Clinical Trials with CommunitY Engagement (TIMELY) and new Continuing Medical Educatio
Read ArticlePositive Results from the DOA (Duloxetine in OsteoArthritis) Study
A pragmatic, open-label trial of osteoarthritis (OA) patients demonstrated that adding duloxetine treatment seems to be beneficial for end-stage knee OA patients with neuropathic-like symptoms (at risk of central sensitization).
Read ArticleBMI Most Impairs Treatment Response in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Using a large cohort of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients, Tumor-Necrosis Factor inhibitors (TNFi) were compared to non-TNFi biologic therapies and showed that poorer responses were seen in obese and underweight patients, with no clear superiority of non-TNFi therapy over TNFi therapy in an
Read ArticleTwo Year Guselkumab Benefits in Psoriatic Arthritis
Patients enrolled in one of the pivotal trials of guselkumab (Tremfya) as therapy for psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and followed for 100 weeks continued to show significantly reduced symptoms relative to pretreatment baseline, researchers said.
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