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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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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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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/DNIt5zs8xA

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

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

Links:

Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

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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Dr. John Cush RheumNow ( View Tweet)

Great read from early last year-Physicians estimate that about 15% of their patients - they dread to see; as they cause aversion, fear, despair or even malice. Washington post reviews how demanding patients should and should not be with their physicians. https://t.co/etCclBXFNu

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Plasmapheresis Indications : TTP, HUS, Cryoglobulinemia, Hyperviscosity, Myasthenia gravis, Goodpastures, Catastrophic APL Syn, Chr inflamm demyelinating polyneuropathy, Removal of drugs/toxins, Alveolar hemorrhage, ANCA vasculitis (questionable) https://t.co/8TBExIx0Kx

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ENTRACTE trial studied the risk of major adverse CV events (MACE) in 3080 RA pts Rx with tocilizumab (TCZ) vs etanercept (ETN), and found no increased risk of MACE in TCZ patients compared to ETN (HR 1.05 (95% confidence interval 0.77–1.43). https://t.co/KpOEeVAAxx

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