All News
VEXAS may be more common than expected
A great study of a recently described rheumatologic/hematologic disorder VEXAS (vacuoles, E1-ubiquitin-activating enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic) syndrome recently appeared in JAMA, describing the frequency and presentations of UBA1 variant.
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Blood Test Identifies Osteoarthritis Progression
A new blood test that can identify progression of osteoarthritis in the knee is more accurate than current methods, providing an important tool to advance research and speed discovery of new therapies.
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Variable Pregnancy Outcomes with Belimumab in SLE
An analysis of the belimumab clinical trials, the Belimumab Pregnancy Registry (BPR), and postmarketing/spontaneous reports looked at outcomes in pregnant systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exposed to belimumab reported there are few pregnancies and confounding disease and comorbidity factors to
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Periprosthetic Joint Infections
Recent NEJM has reviewed arthroplasty-associated infection and periprosthetic joint infections (PJI), noting this is a rare event; notably these infections are caused by skin microorganisms introduced during arthroplasty surgery or may be seeded post-surgically, via hematogenously spread or compromised local tissues (skin or bone).
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JAK-pot Study: To Cycle or Switch after JAK inhibitor Failure?
Data from 17 international registries (JAK-pot collaboration) suggest that for Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients failing their first janus kinase inhibitor (JAKi), it did not matter if they were cycled to another JAKi or switched to a biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drug (bDMARD).
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Burden of BMI on Costs of Musculoskeletal Diseases
A cross-sectional global study shows a substantial impact of obesity and BMI on the health and economic impact of patients with musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders.
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PsA Til Death Do Us Part (1.20.2023)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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AS, but not PsA, has Increased Mortality Risk
Inflammatory disorders are often accompanied by an increased mortality risk, either from secondary malignancy, infection or cardiovascular disease.
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Phase III Trials Back Bimekizumab for Spondyloarthritis
Bimekizumab, an investigational biologic drug targeting interleukin (IL)-17A/F, appeared highly effective in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), researchers said.
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Poorer health outcomes for at-risk patients with fractures
People at high risk of fracture who also have complex or multiple chronic medical conditions are less likely to receive treatment for the underlying osteoporosis and also have poorer health outcomes, according to a new study from the Garvan Institute of Medical Research.
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Elevated Uric Acid Is Associated With New‐Onset Atrial Fibrillation
A Longitudinal Swedish study has shown that elevated serum uric acid (SUA) levels has cardiovascular implications and may predict the development of atrial fibrillation (AFib).
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RA Disease Activity and Alcohol Use
Despite its well known toxicities, alcohol is known to be antiinflammatory. The effects of alcohol use in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is less known, but a recent study suggests that alcohol consumption was dose-dependently associated with lower disease activity and higher health-related quality of life in RA patients.
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Worse Birth Outcomes in RA and SLE
A population-based retrospective cohort study patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) or systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and their infants demonstrated significant adverse pregnancy outcome, particularly the infants of women with SLE.
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Bimekizumab in Active Psoriatic Arthritis - BE COMPLETE study
BE COMPLETE is published, showing that bimekizumab (BMK), a selective dual inhibitor of interleukin (IL)-17F and IL-17A, results in superior improvement in both skin and joint outcomes in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients who have previously failed treatment with a tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα) inhibitor.
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ACP Guidelines on Fracture Prevention in at-risk Adults
The American College of Physicians (ACP) has updated its 2017 recommendations on pharmacologic treatment of primary osteoporosis or low bone mass to prevent fractures in adults. The full document and guideline can be found in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
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Cannabis Use for Pain is Common
In states with legalized medical cannabis use, 3 in 10 persons are using cannabis to manage their pain.
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2022 Memorium
Sadly, too many of our rheumatology colleagues passed on in 2022. Here is an (incomplete) list of notable brethren, mentors, do-gooders and great rheumatologists:
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2022 Rheumatology Year in Review (1-6-2023)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the best of 2022 in Rheumatology - highlights on new drug indications, breakthrough lupus therapies, new biosimilars and the multivitamin letdown.
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2022 Rheumatology Year in Review
2022 was a year of recovery, discovery, and some losses. While still dealing with the aftermath of COVID-19, rheumatologists were resilient as leaders for their patients and research in advancing rheumatologic care.
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Lubricin as a Treatment Target in Gout?
Many Americans think of gout as a disease from a bygone era, akin to rickets or scurvy. The condition commonly afflicted the rich and royal, including American historical figures such as Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.
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