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Best of 2021: Israel provides COVID vaccine answers for rheumatic disease patients
The question as to how autoimmune rheumatic disease patients fare with the COVID vaccine is one being asked in rheumatologists’ offices everywhere this year, and at the EULAR 2021 Virtual Congress, data presented from Israel, one of the first countries to vaccinate on a br
Read ArticleBest of 2021: 11 Drugs That Cause Arthritis
This is the #1 question I get from new consults: “How did I get arthritis?”
But as the aching are asking, they are really thinking these joint complaints must be due to something.
Best of 2021: FDA Approves Anifrolumab in SLE
AstraZeneca announced today that anifrolumab (Saphnelo or anifrolumab-fnia) was approved by the the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for that treatment of adult patients with moderate to severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) who are receiving standard therapy.
Read ArticleBest of 2021: Actemra FDA Approved for Systemic Sclerosis Interstitial Lung Disease
Genentech announced March 4th that the US Food and Drug Administration approved tocilizumab (Actemra) for the treatment of Systemic Sclerosis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease (SSc-ILD), specifically indicated for slowing the rate of decline in pulmonary function in adults S
Read ArticleIndications Awaiting (12.17.21)
There's good news and bad news in rheumatology fellowship matching for 2022. There's also new FDA approvals and indications, but a new serious safety warning has arisen from the CDC about the J&J COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the latest news, journal reports, regulatory approvals, plus 3 new cases from rheumatologists.
Tofacitinib 1st JAK Inhibitor Approved for Ankylosing Spondylitis
The FDA approved tofacitinib (Xeljanz, Xeljanz XR) for treating active ankylosing spondylitis in adults, Pfizer announced on Tuesday.
Read ArticleRinvoq FDA Approved for Active Psoriatic Arthritis
The FDA has approved upadacitinib (Rinvoq) today for use in the treatment of adults with active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to one or more tumor necrosis factor (TNF) blockers.
Read ArticleSerious Adverse Events Associated with Tocilizumab in COVID-19 Patients
Safety analysis of over 1000 adverse events associated with the use of tocilizumab in the treatment of COVID‐19 infection shows both rare expected and some unexpected AE.
Read ArticleAdherence to Medication - Predictive Factors in RA
The numbers on treatment adherence is disappointingly low in RA, with a number of psychological, communication and logistical factors that outweigh the potentially negative influence of sociodemographic or clinical factors.
Read ArticleFDA Puts Boxed Warnings on JAK Inhibitors
Based on the safety review of tofacitinib in Pfizer's Oral Surveillance (1133) study, the FDA has added serious boxed warnings to all three marketed JAK inhibitors (for inflammatory diseases) and formalized the recommendation that patients should be started on a TNF inhibitor (TNFi) before trying a JAK inhibitor. These recommendations apply to tofacitinib, baricitinib and upadacitinib.
Read ArticleRheumatoid Arthritis, Dementia and Cognitive Dysfunction
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been linked to a higher risk of dementia and cognitive dysfunction, but interestingly this association has diminished in the last few decades with aggressive DMARD and targeted therapies..
Read ArticleDORIS - Defining Remission in Lupus
Proponents of treat to target in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have all agreed that "remission" should be the goal, but defining remission may be tricky in SLE. A SLE Definitions Of Remission (DORIS)Task Force was convened in 2015 and first published their work in 2016.
Read ArticleGiant Cell Arteritis Novel Treatment Options
Giant cell arteritis is associated with significant treatment related morbidity due to the dependence on glucocorticoids as a treatment option. After sixty years of therapeutic stagnation, these are exciting times in the management of GCA. At this year's ACR Convergence meeting, encouraging data will be presented on options for GCA.
Read ArticleSafety of Psoriatic Biologics in Pregnancy
Little is known about the safety of newer biologic use during pregnancy, especially in patients who either conceive while on a biologic or must remain on a biologic during pregnancy (often the case with IBD and inflammatory arthritis).
Read ArticleDoes Control of Inflammation Lower Cancer Risk?
Dr. Jonathan Kay's provocative video addresses whether the increased cancer risk associated with tofacitinib (Tofa) seen in the Pfizer Oral Surveillance (1133) study represents a real increased risk, an increased risk relative to a decreased risk with TNF inhibitors (TNFi) or an actual decreased cancer risk (unknown as there was no placebo comparator in this trial).
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