All News
Cochrane Review: Calcium Channel Blocker Efficacy in Raynaud's
The Cochrane Database has published its review of calcium channel blockers (CCB) in Raynaud's phenomenon, showing CCBs may be useful in reducing the frequency, duration, severity of attacks, pain and disability associated with Raynaud's phenomenon, especially with primary Raynaud's.
Read ArticleFatigue, HAQ and Hand Disability Correlated in Early Systemic Sclerosis
Early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (SSc) was associated with high levels of disability and fatigue, according to analysis of data from the European Scleroderma Observational Study cohort.
Read ArticleFDA Approves Mepolizumab for Churg-Strauss (EGPA)
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved use of Nucala (mepolizumab) for use in treating adults with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), previously known as Churg-Strauss vasculitis. This is first FDA-approved therapy specifically to treat EGPA.
Read ArticleThe ACR17 RheumNow Week in Review - 1 December 2017
Dr Jack Cush reviews nighlights and news from the past 2 weeks on RheumNow.com. This week's report includes new drug approvals, disappointing ACR guidelines, Lyme & Zika, infertility, dermatomyositis skin outcomes and myositis-associated cancer testing.
Read ArticleSkin Remission in Dermatomyositis is Uncommon
JAMA Dermatology reports that clinical remission was relatively uncommon in dermatomyositis, despite aggressive systemic therapy, but was best in those receiving mycophenolate during a 3-year study.
Read ArticlePregnancy Outcomes Worse with Myopathies
Women with the autoimmune inflammatory myopathies dermatomyositis (DM) and polymyositis (PM) are at increased risk for hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, a nationwide retrospective study found.
Read ArticleACR Clinical Guidelines Flawed by Low Evidence
JAMA Internal Medicine has reported that recommendations and clinical practice guidelines from the American College of Rheumatology are often based on expert opinion, but lack rigorous (grade A) evidence to support many of their recommendations.
Read ArticleThe RheumNow Week in Review - 17 November 2017
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week he covers FDA warnings on gout drugs, steroid use in Australia, biosimilars lost savings and methotrexate hepatotoxicity in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).
Read ArticlePodcast of ACR17 - Day 4
Care to learn what you missed at last weeks ACR 2017 meeting in San Diego? Here are 4 one hour audio podcasts - each with a compliation of 2-4 minute reports from Drs. Cush, Kavanaugh, the RheumNow Faculty and other rheumatology thought leaders and researchers. Another good way to learn from RheumNow.
Read ArticleThe ACR17 RheumNow Week in Review - 10 November 2017
This special edition of the RheumNow Week in Review covers highlights of selected sessions from the 2017 ACR annual meeting in San Diego. Dr.
Read ArticleHealth Economics of SLE
A number of presentations over the past few days have addressed the health economics of SLE.
Read ArticlePractice Patterns of PJP Prophylaxis Among ID Physicians
While the incidence of pneumocystis pneumonia (PJP) is low is patients with rheumatologic diseases the mortality is quite high compared to PJP in patients with HIV and infection can be prevented with appropriate prophylaxis.
Read ArticleEULAR/ACR SLE Classification Criteria Update
Today the draft of the new EULAR/ACR lupus classification criteria was presented at the ACR 2017.
Read ArticleWho Are We Doing This For?
We take many things for granted. I walked 11,151 steps today going from sessions to posters and exhibit halls to learn as much as I can to take back to my clinic so I can help my patients. My feet were hurting, and my back bothered me as I tried to get comfortable for the next lecture; yet, these minor discomforts are nothing compared to what our patients experience on a daily basis.
Read ArticleSLE Clinical Trial Design and Outcome Measures
Clinical trials remain a challenge in SLE and a number of outcome measures have been used with varying success.
Two abstracts in this session sought to address novel ways to assess responses in SLE trials.
Read ArticleGut-derived TNF: Connection Between Crohn’s and SpA and Sacroiliitis
The pathogenesis between microscopic gut inflammation leading to the development of Crohn’s disease and sacroiliitis has been poorly understood. Dr. Debusschere, et al sought to understand this important link between IBD and axial SpA.
Read ArticleCo-morbid Fibromyalgia
Complementopathies: Redefining Old Diseases
From Dr. Michelle Petri’s lecture on Antiphospholipid Syndrome Updates at ACR17 Review Course on Saturday, I learned that there is now a new class of diseases called the complementopathies. This was the first time I heard of this term; how many patients did I misdiagnose who really had this and what are the ICD10 codes?!
Read ArticleTocilizumab Benefits Persist in SSc
Clinically meaningful improvements in systemic sclerosis among patients treated with subcutaneous tocilizumab (Actemra) persisted during the open-label phase of a multinational randomized phase II trial, researchers reported.
Read Article