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New CDC Guidelines on Prescribing Opiates for Pain
The use of opioids has become increasingly problematic in the last few years. First, the rising rates of use and abuse, followed by greater restrictions and regulations that have curtailed use, and, finally, a resultant increase in illicit drug use (heroin) and opioid overdoses.
Read ArticleLeflunomide and Weight Loss in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Weight change can have substantial effects on the outcomes of patients with arthritis. It has long been known that weight loss and low body mass index (BMI) are associated with poorer arthritis outcomes.
Read ArticleACR Invites Comment on Perioperative Management Guidelines
The ACR is inviting members and rheumatologists to comment on their proposal to develop recommendations for the "Perioperative Management of Rheumatic Disease Medications in Total Joint Arthroplasty of the Hip and Knee".
Read ArticleCombined Dermatology-Rheumatology Clinics Benefits Patients
Healio reports that patients followed in a combined Dermatology and Rheumatology clinic in Canada revealed high patient satisfaction.
Read ArticleBiosimilars Reviewed by Expert Panel
As the number of biosimilars in development keeps on growing, reaching nearly 700 products to date, demand for data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and an understanding of these new biologics is peaking the interest of many.
Read Article"Lost to Follow-up" Patients are Common in Rheumatology
The frequency of not returning (lost to follow-up) (LTFU) in patients with rheumatic diseases is high. Associated demographic factors included older age in RA, female gender in SLE and Ps/PsA, and younger age in Ps/PsA, with various reasons for being LTFU.
Read ArticleDrugs that May Induce Raynaud's
A systematic review by Khouri examined the extent drugs are capable of inducing Raynaud's phenomenon (RP).
Read ArticleVitamin D has No Effect on Knee Osteoarthritis
Vitamin D supplementation for individuals with knee osteoarthritis and low 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels did not reduce knee pain or slow cartilage loss, according to a study appearing in the March 8 issue of JAMA.
Intraarticular Steroids Before Joint Surgery Increase Infection Risk
Hip and knee intraarticular injection of corticosteroids are frequently prescribed to alleviate pain or inflammation in patients with osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis, especially in the period leading up to scheduled arthroplasty.
Read ArticleMethotrexate Safety with Chronic Hepatitis B Infection
Chronic liver disease, and in particular hepatitis B infection, is a contraindication to methotrexate (MTX) use.
Read ArticleTNF Inhibition and Heart Failure
Clinicians often face the issue of using a TNF inhibitor (TNFi) in patients with heart failure or cardiac disease. Here are the facts and data necessary to make a cogent decision to use or avoid TNFi.
Read ArticleEarly Aggressive Treatment of Elderly RA Results in Less Joint Surgery
Two population-based cohorts from Ontario (ON) and Quebec (QC) were used to assess if early DMARD influenced the need for joint replacement surgery among elderly patients with incident rheumatoid arthritis.
Read ArticleLess Treatment, Responses and Safety in Elder-Onset Rheumatoid Arthritis
A recent review compared elderly-onset rheumatoid arthritis (EORA) to those with younger-onset rheumatoid arthritis (YORA) to assess treatment responses and safety issues with biologics and DMARDS. EORA is generally defined as the onset of rheumatoid arthritis after age 60 years.
Read ArticleRheumatoid Arthritis Alone is Not a Risk for Post-Op CV Events
Using hospitalization claims from 7 states, reasearchers studied the risk of cardiovascular outcomes following surgery in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. (Citation source http://buff.ly/1TDsVG6)
Read ArticleOral Prednisolone and NSAIDs Equipotent in Acute Gout
An emergency department based study evaluated the efficacy and safety of oral prednisolone versus indomethacin in 416 patients with acute gout in a multicenter, double-blind, randomized trial.
Read ArticleCurbside Consults - February 2016
The following is a collection of cases presented to me by rheumatology colleagues. Each has a challenging therapeutic or safety issue. Answers are based on experience with references from literature and guidelines.
Read ArticleChallenges of Dermatomyositis Progress
In the current issue of Lancet, Pierre Miossec discusses the challenges of studying and managing juvenile dermatomyositis and, specifically, the
Read ArticleTransdermal NSAID Touted as an Advance
Reuters reports that researchers at the University of Warwick have devised a new transdermal drug delivery patch that may change the future of pain management.
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