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EULAR Guidance on Patient Adherence to Meds

d Jack Cush, MD

Non-adherence may be the single most untold risk to suboptimal outcomes in the care of musculoskeletal disease.  It has been estimated that 30-80% of patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) are nonadherent to prescribed regimens.  EULAR has commissioned a task force

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Spinal Benefits Seen With Cosentyx in PsA

d MedPage Today

Secukinumab (Cosentyx) was effective for axial manifestations of psoriatic arthritis in a 52-week multicenter phase III study, investigators reported.

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COVID-19 Vaccination - Phase Ib Begins

d Jack Cush, MD

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a timeline guidance document on when, how and who should get the commercially available COVID-19 vaccines. 

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Telemedicine Less Utilized in the South and Urban Areas

d Jack Cush, MD

MMWR has reported on a July 2020 survey study from 1,009 Health Resources and Services Administration–funded health centers showing that urban Health centers were more likely to provide virtual visits than those in rural areas.

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Broadalumab the other IL-17 inhibitor, is FDA approved for psoriasis. The AMVISION-1 & AMVISION-2 ph III trials in psoriatic arthritis showed in 962 PsA pts it was effective w/ week 16 ACR20 of ~46% (vs 21% PBO). AEs unremarkable w/ 1 case of depression https://t.co/zrsVD7N3Z9

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Hello 2021 and new drug price hikes - on average a 4.2% hike in over 500 drugs (past years saw an avg hike ~5%). Increases include Cosentyx 7%, Humira & Rinvoq 7.4%, Orencia 4.5%, Taltz 5%, Actemra 3%, Benlysta 5%, Xeljanz 4.9% & Cimzia 4%

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WooHoo. Got my 2nd Covid-19 vax shot. Now my B cells are in overdrive against the nasty COVID. Please get yours. ASAP https://t.co/rRj44GpJxl
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Study of 100 pts w/ Granulomatosis with polyangiitis finds 56% had elevated d-dimer levels and that d-dimer are associated with disease activity and inflammation rather than with the risk of venous thromboembolism. 23 had VTE not predicted by d-dimer https://t.co/zIYKXNl0oO

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Telemedicine Less Utilized in the South and Urban Areas-- an MMWR student from 7/20 shows that urban health centers were more likely to provide virtual visits that those in rural areas. https://t.co/DU9HjGXOHQ https://t.co/eBJJXK2qg9

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Join us this March for RheumNow Live! Sign up via the link below. https://t.co/vJlU0Z3Q3x https://t.co/G1s3F7zKlI

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Study of 2050 Northern Italian arthritis clinic pts; where 1.1-1.4% of population developed COVID-19. Steroid use was independently associated with increased COVID risk (adj OR 1.23 to 3.20). But Rx w/ ts/bDMARDs had reduced risk (adj OR 0.46). https://t.co/cLXdpzda9t

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Rifampin is safest! 2 RCTs of 6485 latent TB pts compared 9 mos of isoniazid vs 4 mos of rifampicin. RIF had half the adverse events compared to INH; roughly half the rate of rash (1.5% v 2.7%); No grade 3-4 hepatotoxicity w/ RIF, compared 6%) w/ INH https://t.co/6Nz0zeP8ik

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MIRROR OL study shows that when pegloticase is co-administered with methotrexate, a high rate of response is seen (79% or 11/14 pts), achieved a complete response (sUA < 6 mg/dL) at Month 6. Topline results announced by Horizon. https://t.co/DNIt5zJJp8

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Analysis of worldwide data on Abatacept shows that compared with other bDMARDs, ABA was not associated with an increased overall cancer risk [ROR 0.98 (95% CI 0.91, 1.05)], but may be increased for risk of melanoma [1.58 (95% CI 1.17, 2.08)] https://t.co/8IQRHoPqBl https://t.co/5MkvEKcNJg

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#Bestof2020 Plaquenil Does Not Protect Lupus Patients from COVID-19 https://t.co/R5S7phlqYb https://t.co/HDlDfE98RQ

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23% of RA patients have moderate-to-severe Obstructive Sleep Apnea (AHI ≥ 15) - study of RA patients 199 patients underwent PSG, OSA is more common in RA than in the general population, but there is no relationship with disease activity. https://t.co/wNasW3AerN

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Surveys/interviews w/ 1010 patients suggest Telehealth worked best for routine & familiar health issues w/ pre-existing clinical relationship. Telehealth less suitable when examination was needed, when Dx was unknown, when patients prefered F2F visis https://t.co/QZYBzxyGz6

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Risk of venous thromboembolism is increased in ankylosing spondylitis patients. Study of 7190 pt shows a 2 fold risk, higher in the first year - risks for PE (HR 2.88), DVT (HR 2.20) and VTE overall (HR 2.10 ) were increased. https://t.co/TIhlKuRw8S

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#Bestof2020 Update on Polymyalgia Rheumatica and Giant Cell Arteritis https://t.co/8Kxts1X43H https://t.co/j06SFRxQ3m

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NEJM: Actemra Studied in COVID pneumonia and shown to improve outcomes (mech ventilation or death ;12 vs 19.3%) but did not improve survival (10.4 vs 8.6%). 389 hospitalized pts randomized 2:1 to get 2 IV doses Actemra +SOC vs SOC alone https://t.co/BdslXFXOYD

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