The RWCS - RheumNow Week in Review - 9 February 2018

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights, news and recent research published this week on RheumNow.com. This week's report includes news and education from the RWCS meeting in Maui.

RWCS Day 2 Podcast

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Listen in on the proceedings from the 2018 RWCS meeting in Maui with excerpts from leading teachers in rheumatology. This podcast features Drs. Martin Bergman, Jack Cush, Rachel Tate, Phil Aleksiejuk, Shubha Kollampare, Orrin Troum, and Alvin Wells. Listen here or on Stitcher, iTune, iPhone, Soundcloud or Google play.

Nailfold Capillaroscopy Portends Prognosis in Systemic Sclerosis

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Two reports underscore the importance of nailfold capillaroscopy (NFC) in scleroderma and have shown that nailfold capillary drop out was significantly associated with mortality in systemic sclerosis.

Abatacept Shows Promise for RA-ILD

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Abatacept (Orencia) may be a useful treatment option for patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who develop interstitial lung disease (ILD), a Spanish study suggested.

Inefficacy of Immunosuppressive Treatments in Systemic Sclerosis with ILD

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EUSTAR study results published in Arthritis Research & Therapy show the current state of immunosuppressive use in systemic sclerosis patients with interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) to be ill-defined, but that liberal use of glucocorticoids (GC) in SSc-ILD should be discouraged

ESRD Death Declines in Vasculitis Patients

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In the past 2 decades, mortality from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among U.S. patients with granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) has declined significantly, a nationwide study found.

Less Cardiovascular Risk with Abatacept in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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A claims data analysis shows that abatacept use in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients yielded a modestly reduced cardiovascular risk when compared to patients receiving TNF inhibitors (TNFi).

Stroke Risk Highest in the First Year of Lupus (Best of 2017)

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Arkema et al has published in Annals of Rheumatic Disease a study showing that ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke (CVA) is elevated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with the general population, especially in the first year. 

The RheumNow Week in Review - 22 December 2017

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights and news from the past week on RheumNow.com. 

Cardiac Disturbances Increased in Spondyloarthritis

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A prospective Swedish study between 2001–2009 found a higher risk of aortic regurgitation, pacemaker, AV block and atrial fibrillation in SpA, AS, uSpA and PsA patients.

Cochrane Review: Calcium Channel Blocker Efficacy in Raynaud's

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The Cochrane Database has published its review of calcium channel blockers (CCB) in Raynaud's phenomenon, showing CCBs may be useful in reducing the frequency, duration, severity of attacks, pain and disability associated with Raynaud's phenomenon, especially with primary Raynaud's.

FDA Approves Mepolizumab for Churg-Strauss (EGPA)

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved use of Nucala (mepolizumab) for use in treating adults with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), previously known as Churg-Strauss vasculitis. This is first FDA-approved therapy specifically to treat EGPA. 

The RheumNow Week in Review - 8 December 2017

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Dr. Jack Cush covers the news and journal articles published on RheumNow.comin the past week.

Do JAK Inhibitors Increase the Risk of Venous Thromboembolic Events?

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Drug Safety has published a systematic review of the FDA’s Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) and finds numerous reports of thromboembolic adverse events (AEs) associated with two currently marketed Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors, tofacitinib (Xeljanz) and ruxolitinib (Jakafi).

PRECISION Subanalyses Question Aspirin Use

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The PRECISION trial reported last year that celecoxib appears to be safer than the NSAIDs naproxen or ibuprofen in treating osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis patients who are at increased cardiovascular risk. New data suggests that adding aspirin may nullify this advantage, according to a study presented at the annual American Heart Association meeting and reported by Medscape.

Stroke Increased in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic, inflammatory disease with systemic effects beyond the joints. While RA patients are known to have signficantly higher risks for cardiovascular disease and venous thromboembolic events, an association with stroke (CVA) is unclear.

Cardiovascular Events: Allopurinol vs. Febuxostat

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In the registration trials for febuxostat there were concerns about a cardiovascular (CV) safety signal. In studies of the effect of allopurinol on CV risk/events allopurinol has found to be protective so whether febuxostat is different is a point to clarify.

Thymus and Activation-Regulated Chemokine as Biomarker for IgG4-Related Disease

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RA and Cardiac Co-Morbidities

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We know that cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death in RA and that traditional risk factors do not fully account for increased risk.

Gout Increases Risk of Stroke Moreso than MI

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Gout coassociates with many of the disorders within the metabolic syndrome - diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and obesity.  Not surprisingly, gout is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, but the risk magnitude for  myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke are unclear.