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Chondrocalcinosis Increases Osteoarthritis Risk
Analysis of data from two large, prospective cohort studies show that knee chondrocalcinosis was associated with an increased risk of incident knee osteoarthritis.
Repurposing & Pipeline (8.8.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, reports, pipeline and drug repurposing on this week’s podcast.
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2025 BSR Recommendations for ANCA-associated Vasculitis
The British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) and British Health Professionals in Rheumatology (BHPR) have published a guideline for the management of adults with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV); specifically three conditions: granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA).
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CKD & Osteoporosis Rx Revisited (7.25.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal and FDA updates from this past week on RheumNow.com.
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Osteoporosis Drug May Lower Osteoarthritis Risk
A target trial emulation study using administrative claims suggests that romosozumab was associated with a lower risk of osteoarthritis than teriparatide among individuals with osteoporosis, particularly for knee osteoarthritis.
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RA Lung Disease Portends Poor Outcomes
A retrospective Harvard affiliates study shows that rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with lung disease have higher mortality, especially respiratory and infection-related mortality than those without lung disease (LD).
Primary CNS angiitis - an uncommon vasculitis affecting brain, spinal cord, or leptomeninges, typically B/L, but here are 48 pts w/ unilateral PACNS. Dx is made by imaging, wall imaging (VWI), perfusion, spectroscopy. Histology shows small-to med vessel lymphocytic vasculitis https://t.co/ji0oaGfdJf
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Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: An Ultrasound Pictorial Review
https://t.co/Qr4ehZo41p
Tarsal tunnel syndrome (TTS) is an entrapment neuropathy caused by compression of the posterior tibial nerve or its branches as they pass beneath the flexor retinaculum at the medial ankle. Clinical https://t.co/FivPCl7EvU
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Glossary for Giant Cell Arteritis
Dejaco and colleagues have published a glossary of terms often used in conjunction with giant cell arteritis. The glossary of definitions for 23 signs and symptoms of GCA was developed through a consensus process involving international https://t.co/cIA3UvNcP6
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Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) in Dx of systemic sclerosis - study of 258 NVCs found giant capillaries (specificity 98%) & capillary density to be best at defining a scleroderma pattern (39%). Density ≤8 capillaries/mm best defined dropout (AUC 0.911); having both = 91% https://t.co/zyoe7ofGLR
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Inefficiencies of ANA Testing
The Journal of Rheumatology has published an analysis of antinuclear antibody (ANA) multiplex testing showing its nonspecific utility and poor rate of return in identifying ANA-associated autoimmune rheumatic disease (ARDs). https://t.co/85B70egGBw
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Nailfold videocapillaroscopy (NVC) in Dx of systemic sclerosis - study of 258 NVCs found giant capillaries (specificity 98%) & capillary density to be best at defining a scleroderma pattern (39%). Density ≤8 capillaries/mm best defined dropout (AUC 0.911); having both = 91% https://t.co/WQx6fbQiAB
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Retrospective study of FDG-PET scans at Int. Medicine tertiary hosp (2015-2020), included 260 adult IM pts - indications: infx 42%, inflammation 35%, suspected CA 17%. 80% were helpful; 40% Rx changed. 23% neg. results; 9% made the Dx; 43% PET superior to other imaging. Less https://t.co/2UG2npJgRg
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French retrospective observational study of Bx/CT/PET Dx of 380 #GCA pts found 7.6% (29) w/ Nl baseline CRP < 10 mg/L at Dx. GCA w/ low CRP had less fever, more ocular Dz (ant ischemic optic neuropathy 28 vs 13%), & limb claudication (24 vs. 8%) but equal relapse rates https://t.co/fPy92NjJzS
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Cancer screening in RA - retrospective, matched cohort study of 1,614 RA vs 1,597 controls (mean 63 yrs); @ 5 yrs, RA had less cervical cancer screens (52% vs 58%) (aHR:0.83); but no decrease in screens for breast (aHR:0.98), prostate (aHR:0.99), or colorectal (aHR:1.04) CA https://t.co/NnxRnZcZwq
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NEJM images: 55-year-old man with metastatic squamous-cell lung cancer Hx& 6-wk Hx firm, painful swelling RToe1 & RDIP3 w/ ulceration. Xray showed lytic lesions due to acrometastases - rare bony metastases distal to elbow or knee, that may may mimic gout or osteomyelitis https://t.co/1Fh1Cp9dm9
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Subclinical Synovitis Among Psoriasis Patients
A systematic review shows that imaging can be used to detect subclinical synovitis among patients with psoriasis and may identify individuals at risk for future psoriatic arthritis.
https://t.co/2603Aax8PP https://t.co/2XDtDg1QHh
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US CDC study of age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) from 1990-2020, there were 39,496 deaths related to scleroderma (SSc) & and 5,163 from SSc w/ renal failure. Deaths lower in males (22%) than females w/ renal failure (78%). Mortality rate of SSc w? renal failure was https://t.co/OT3BHt3E85
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Full read overview of new imaging modalities for inflammatory arthritis, including high-res.quantitative CT, ultra-high field MRI), PET, fluorescence optical imaging, optoacoustic imaging, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography - all with artificial intelligence analysis https://t.co/rbHiPWAAFP
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Full read overview of new imaging modalities for inflammatory arthritis, including high-res.quantitative CT, ultra-high field MRI), PET, fluorescence optical imaging, optoacoustic imaging, contrast-enhanced ultrasonography - all with artificial intelligence analysis https://t.co/3w5RZEUC9K
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