ACR Questions Medicare Proposed Cuts to Critical Services Reimbursement by Cognitive Specialists

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In comments submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to the CY 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program proposed rule, the American College of Rheumatology applauded proposals that would provide more flexibility and improve care coordination, while raising concerns about proposed cuts to reimbursement for critical services provided by rheumatologists and other cognitive specialists.

Does Dendritic Cell Targeted Therapy Work in SLE?

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A phase 2 trial using litifilimab, a humanized monoclonal antibody binding to blood dendritic cell antigen 2 (BDCA2), demonstrated clinical efficacy in adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Pirfenidone Potential in RA-Related Lung Disease

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Rheumatoid arthritis patients with existing interstitial lung disease (ILD) had less decline in lung function when receiving the antifibrotic agent pirfenidone (Esbriet) relative to placebo in a randomized trial, researchers reported here and in a simultaneous journal publication.

Global Trends Informing the Future of Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Finkh et al report on the prevalence and interesting trends in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), including its higher prevalence in industrialized countries and declining disease severity over time. 

Study Reassures on HCQ Heart Risks in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Among U.S. veterans receiving hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as long-term therapy for rheumatoid arthritis, development of long QT syndrome was rare and not markedly more common compared with similar patients treated with other agents, researchers said.

Voclosporin Efficacy and Safety in Lupus Nephritis

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An integrated analysis of two pivotal trials of voclosporin, a calcineurin inhibitor, in lupus nephritis patients saw significant improvement in complete renal responses (CRR) at one year.

Goofy But True

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Dr. Jack Cush discusses declining survival rates in the USA, FDA approvals of new COVID subvariant boosters and other odd and possibly true new research reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.

Hypertension Associated with RA and OA

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While hypertension and arthritis are very common disorders, the association between them is unclear.  Analysis of NHANES data suggests that both rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) are strongly associated with hypertension (HTN).

Genetic Testing for Autoinflammatory Disease

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Not all patients with periodic fevers fit neatly into diagnostic categories. Some can be diagnosed as Still’s disease (based on criteria) while others can be classified as autoinflammatory diseases (AID) and some may be unclassifiable, clinically or genetically.

EULAR/ACR Classification in MDA5+ Myositis Patients

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The diagnosis of idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) can be informed by the 2017 EULAR/ACR classification criteria, but their utility in patients with clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM) and anti–melanoma differentiation–associated protein 5 (anti–MDA-5)–positive IIM

NICE Guidelines on Gout Diagnosis and Management

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NICE (UK) has systematically reviewed current medical evidence and delivered a set of recommendations with consideration of cost effectiveness.

Prevalent Sleep Problems in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Data from Data FORWARD (The National Databank for Rheumatic Diseases) reveals that nearly two-thirds of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients have self-reported sleep problems.

Disease Activity Scoring in Adult-onset Still's disease

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Still's disease in adults (AOSD) or children (sJIA) can have dramatic symptom severity, making it easy to gauge disease activity and response to therapy, especially at the outset. However, a validated measure of disease activity has not been agreed (for clinical trial and treatment assessments). A new study compares two such activity measuresin a large cohort of Still's patients.

STING/IFN Activation Promotes ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Progression

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Research presented in the Journal of Experimental Medicine shows that ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) may be propagated by pathogenic mechanisms triggering cGAS/STING/IRF3-dependent IFN-I release.

Autoimmune Disease Augments Cardiovascular Risk

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A large UK database study suggests that young adults with autoimmune diseases have an associated increased risk for cardiovascular disease.

Influenza Vaccination Recommendations

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The CDC has published an update to the recommendations from the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) on the use of seasonal influenza vaccines in the United States for the 2022-23 season.

Olokizumab, another IL-6 Inhibitor for RA

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This week's NEJM has published the efficacy results of a large phase 3 trial of olokizumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody that directly targets IL-6 in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

This is in contrast to two other marketed IL-6 inhibitors (sarilumab, tocilizumab) that bind to the IL-6 receptor.

Hyaluronic Acid Knee Injections Equivalent to Placebo

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In the United States, where over $300 million is spent annually on intraarticular hyaluronic acid injections, yet another study shows such therapy to be no better than placebo.

Bullous Systemic Lupus Erythematosus

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Bullous systemic lupus erythematosus (BSLE) is a rare blistering cutaneous manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

As goes SLE, bullous disease typically affects women, especially those of African descent.

Bidirectional Association Between Depression and Rheumatoid Arthritis

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A recent meta-analysis suggests a bidirectional association between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and depression.  Finding RA patients with depression yields an 80% increased mortality risk.

Anti-cytokine therapies represents a potential alternative for the treatment of depression.