Polygenic Risk Scores to Identfy Severe Knee and Hip Osteoarthritis

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Prevention of knee and hip osteoarthritis would obviate considerable disability and future surgery.  We may be one step closer according to a prospective European GWAS study showing polygenic risk scores (PRSs) significantly associated with higher risks for knee and hip OA joint replacement.

Diagnostic Delays in Spondyloarthritis Still Prolonged

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Previously quoted average  delay in diagnosing axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) may be improving as a recent UK study shows the mean average time to diagnosis in two different NHS trusts was between five and six years. 

Lack of Research Stymies Uptake of Medical Marijuana for Rheumatic Pain

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A new review article from CreakyJoints finds that there has been limited progress in understanding the potential of cannabis based therapies for the treatment of pain associated with rheumatic conditions in the past five years because of a lack of standardization of clinical research and barriers to conducting research due to existing federal and state regulations.

Acne with JAK Inhibitors

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JAK inhibitors have become enormously popular and while their side effect profile has been delineated and reviewed, little mention is made of acne – an adverse event that may affect up to one-quarter of patients taking JAK inhibitors (JAKi).

BSR Guideline on Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathy

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The British Society of Rheumatology (BSR) has published evidence-based guidelines for idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) affecting juvenile and adult-onset disease. This rare condition has an estimated prevalence of 5-15 per 100,000 persons.

Efficacy of Subsequent b/tsDMARD Use in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Analysis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) data from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register shows that, even after failing three or more biologic or targeted synthetic DMARDs (b/tsDMARDs), patients may continue to benefit from repeated trials of unused b/tsDMARDs. 

Allopurinol Use Does Not Increase Mortality in Gout with Chronic Kidney Disease

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A population based trial has shown that allopurinol use dose escalation and achieving target uric acid levels (with allopurinol), was not associated with increased mortality in patients with gout and concurrent CKD

Trends in Rheumatoid Arthritis Disabililty, Despite Biologics

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Disability claims in the U.S. related to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were just as common in 2015 as in 1999, a government researcher found, against expectations that the advent of biologic therapy would have led to a steady decrease.

Upadacitinib FDA Approved for Ankylosing Spondylitis

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Abbvie has announced the US Food and Drug Administration has approved upadacitinib (Rinvoq or UPA) for use in adults with active ankylosing spondylitis, who have not responded or been intolerant of one or more TNF blockers. The recommended dose is 15 mg per day.

$30 Billion and Counting (4.29.2022)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports and takes viewer questions this week.

Prolonged TNF Inhibitor Use Delays Sacroiliac Progression

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While tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) have been shown to alter/retard X-ray outcomes in peripheral inflammatory arthritis, the inhibitor effects of TNFi on axial skeletal progression in spondylitis has been difficult to prove, owing to difficulties in study design, identifying best cohorts and a presumed slower rate of change in the spine. 

Intraarticular Steroids in Hip Osteoarthritis - Do They Work?

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The efficacy of ultrasound guided intra-articular hip injection of corticosteroid in adult hip osteoarthritis (HOA) was shown to be effective when added to conventional current treatment. But was this a clinically meaningful outcome?

PsA Journal Club - Fecal Transplant & H2H IXE vs ADA

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Playback now available! Watch our Tuesday Nite Rheumatology, held April 26th, 2022, which featured a Journal Club panel discussion  about two important studies.

Biologics for JIA? Not So Fast, Say Insurers

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It's not a simple matter to prescribe tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors for patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), at least those with insurance, a single-center study found.

Arthritis Predicts Hepatic Fibrosis in Hemochromatosis

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Mayo Clinic Proceedings reports the results of a retrospective, cross-sectional of patients with HFE hemochromatosis showing that advanced hepatic fibrosis is primarily seen in those with arthritis due to HFE hemochromatosis. 

COVID-19 Vaccination Uptake and Perceptions in Rheumatic Patients

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Putman et al has reported vaccine survey results from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance (C19-GRA) in Lancet Rheumatology showing the uptake and vaccine hesitancy among people with rheumatic diseases (RMD).

Survey data from 7005 vaccinated and unvaccinated, adult RMD respondents from 102 countries was analyzed.

Evusheld as Protective Therapy in High Risk COVID-19 Patients

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A single dose of the monoclonal-antibody AZD7442 (combination of tixagevimab and cilgavimab) has been shown to be safe and effective as prophylaxis against COVID-19 infection in high risk individuals who tested positive for COVID-19. 

TNR - Controversies in PsA

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Held on April 19, 2022, Tuesday Night Rheumatology: Controversies in PsA, featured a lively and informative panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Jack Cush.

The PsA Expert panelists included: