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Hydroxychloroquine Fails as Pre-exposure Prophylaxis for COVID-19

d Jack Cush, MD

Numerous previous studies have questioned the efficacy or protection afforded by hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) for COVID-19 and studies have show that HCQ has failed when given as post-exposure prophylaxis to health care workers (HCWs).  A new randomized controlled trial has shown that HCQ failed when given as 8 weeks of pre-exposure prophylaxis in hospital-based HCWs exposed to patients with COVID-19 patients. 

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Novel Biologic Promising in Mid-Stage Scleroderma Trial

d RheumNow

The anti-interleukin agent romilkimab showed significant benefits on skin fibrosis among patients with systemic sclerosis in a phase II trial, researchers reported.

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Filgotinib Approved by the EMA for Rheumatoid Arthritis

d Jack Cush, MD

On Friday, Gilead and Galapagos announced that the European Commission (EC) has granted marketing authorization for filgotinib (trade name, Jyseleca) their oral, once-daily, JAK1 inhibitor for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who have resp

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Gabapentin Fails to Lessen Chronic Pelvic Pain

d Jack Cush, MD

Lancet reports that in a randomized, blinded, controlled trial, gabapentin failed to significantly lower pain scores in women with chronic pelvic pain, and was associated with higher adverse event rates compared to placebo.

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RheumNow Podcast – Cardiovascular Risk in Psoriatic Disease (9.25.20)

d Jack Cush, MD

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

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EULAR Updated 2019 Recommendations for Psoriatic Arthritis Management

d Jack Cush, MD

In June 2020, we failed to report on the ARD publication updating the 2019 update the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) recommendations for the pharmacological treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) - these are presented below.

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Romilkimab Effective in Early Diffuse Systemic Sclerosis

d Jack Cush, MD

A phase II study of patients with early diffuse systemic sclerosis (SSc) has demonstrated improvement in SSc skin outcomes by targeting T cells and fibrosis with the bispecific monoclonal antibody romilkimab (RMK).

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388 RA pts Rx w/ either b/tsDMARD (Group I) or csDMARD (Group II) . After 3 years, BMD stable at the femoral neck, hip and lumbar (L1–4) (P =0.09, 0.15, 0.87) in Group I, but . BMD decreased significantly in Group II (P=0.045, <0.001, 0.004) at these sites.https://t.co/BExfJ772Hu

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14203 early RA cohort looked at adherence to quality standards of care (DMARD use, steroids, early F/U care) and showed adherence lessened need for future hospitalisation (adj HR 0.85); most impact from early DMARDs, worst from steroid use https://t.co/hzICGWyht2

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Today Janssen announced the FDA has approved golimumab (Simponi Aria) for use in children (> 2yrs) with active Polyarticular Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis and for pediatric Psoriatic Arthritis https://t.co/ntWJXjEJvc

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ASSERT looked at ankylosing spondylitis (AS) pts treated with infliximab (n = 16) or placebo (n = 7). Infliximab was shown to reduce depression & depressive symptoms by improving AS disease Sxs. There was no link between CRP inflammation & depression https://t.co/oC5rQP2Jec

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Small study compared denosumab (20 pts) and teriparatide (21) in glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO) Pts not responding to bisphosphonates. At 24 mos Teriparatide might have some advantages over denosumab (greater increases in LS/fem neck BMD) https://t.co/5wR9DlLfPK

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Pfizer announced the FDA has approved tofacitinib (Xeljanz) in children (>2yrs) w/ polyarticular JIA. Approval based on a 225 pt, Phase 3, 18 wk Open Run-in followed by 26-wk randomized, withdrawal study of placebo vs tofa 5 mg qd (or wt based oral soln) https://t.co/9Xo3lriINH

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Study of early axSpA from the DESIR cohort looked at MRIs of the SI joint/spine @baseline, 2 & 5 yrs; showed that bone marrow edema pn MRI‐SIJ and ‐spine at baseline predicted of ‐year damage pm MRI‐SIJ [OR=4.2] and MRI‐spine [OR=10.7] https://t.co/3PAJ5Zt4Pp

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Among a 112 patient inflammatory myositis cohort, inclusion body myositis was rare (4 pts) - they tend to be older (67 yrs), male predominance, lower CK (1326-1968), less severe weakness 3.75/5) and poor response to immunosuppressives. https://t.co/VxLOAjstWo

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The RheumNow Podcast is up! Cardiovascular Risk in Psoriatic Disease, Higher COVID rates in young adults, Reimbursements for Rheumatologists and more. Watch here>> https://t.co/cBHTeUQhff or liste to podcast here> https://t.co/KBgmsoGRzU or on iTunes> https://t.co/FHJv01AAbC

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Nice overview of what our colleagues are upto at the gout education society - Drs. Jas Singh, Hyun Choi and Tuhina Neogi!! https://t.co/9v2m0EcvhT https://t.co/3iYv0WlcL9

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High-risk coronary plaques (LRNC) assessed by Coronary CT scores in 209 biologic naive Psoriasis pts. LNRC correlated w/ Framingham risk & Dz activity. After 1 year those on biologics had signif reduction in LRNC, but those not on biologics had no change https://t.co/8o74pjIs5n

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Rheums Win Big in 2021! According to the estimates from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), endocrinologists and rheumatologists are the big winners, at 17% and 16% projected increases, respectively https://t.co/I6etQZnFlv

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Swedish GWAS study of >850,000 individuals shows Genetically predicted BMI (obesity) significantly increases RA riskk, but no correlation of RA risk to waist-to-hip ratios. https://t.co/YkzwjPOVyE

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