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Erosive Hand Osteoarthritis Portends Worse OA
An erosive hand osteoarthritis (EOA) study from the Osteoarthritis Initiative shows that EOA is more common in older women and is strongly linked to further progressive, articular structural damage.
This was a longitudinal cohort study of 3,365 individuals without prevalent erosive hand OA at baseline.
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Diagnostic Delay in Half of Psoriatic Arthritis Patients
A Mayo Clinic/ Olmsted County study of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients has shown that more than half (55%) of PsA patients had a diagnostic delay of > 2 years, and that this delay has not improved over time.
Read ArticleRheumNow Podcast – COVID Marching Amidst the Madness (8.27.2021)
We have a lot of news, information and approvals to review and discuss, though I need to begin with what's weighing heavily on my mind. After, we'll dive into what we learned this week.
Read ArticleThe Predictive Value of Morning Stiffness
A prospective study evaluated the value and associations with morning stiffness in patients with clinically suspect arthralgia, and found that the presence of morning stiffness increases the odds of inflammation (as detected by CRP and MRI synovitis).
Read ArticleRheumNow Podcast – Driving in Pain (8.20.2021)
You know, I'm a very good driver. We all think we're great drivers - but consider what it's like to drive in pain: would you be a good driver? Also, I want you to consider the diagnosis of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate disease (CPPD). But first, let's look at a study out of Scotland, looking at military service and greater risk of hip and knee replacement.
Read ArticleOligoarticular vs. Polyarticular Psoriatic Arthritis
A psoriatic arthritis (PsA) cohort analysis reveals many similarities and few distinctions between those who present with oligoarticular and polyarticular PsA.
Read ArticleEULAR Points on Managing Difficult Rheumatoid Arthritis
A EULAR task force has promulgated several points to consider in managing difficult-to-treat RA. These "points" are unique in directing the rheumatologist's attention to the potential for misdiagnosis and the impact of comorbid conditions on what is perceived as poorly controlled RA.
Read ArticleOsteonecrosis in Lupus
A single center analysis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients found symptomatic osteonecrosis (ON) in nearly 10%.
Read ArticleArthritis as a Harbinger of Pediatric Cancer
Lancet Rheumatology has published a cohort analysis showing that a small but significant subset of children presenting with arthralgia or arthritis may have a pediatric malignancy.
Read ArticleIs Pre-Clinical Spondyloarthritis a Real Risk?
A study of first-degree relatives (FDRs) of HLA-B27-positive axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients shows clinical or imaging features of spondyloarthritis in up to 32% subjects, regardless of HLA-B27 status.
Read ArticleICYMI: Rheumatologists Rank 2nd in Physician Burnout
The 2021 Medscape Survey on Physician burnout ranks rheumatology second, just behind Critical Care medicine.
The survey included over 12,000 physcians from 20 specialties. While 42% of MDs claimed to be burnt-out, Rheumatologists claimed this 50% of the time. The top 3 this year were Critical care (51%), Rheumatology (50%) and infectious disease (49%).
Neuropsychiatric Events Common in Lupus
Neuropsychiatric (NP-SLE) or CNS lupus events range from mild to severe; several recent studies have noted that NPS lupus is common and should be screened for.
A metanalysis of the literature finds 22 studies wherein the mean frequency of NPSLE ranged from 10.6% to 96.4%. When researchers with the Swiss SLE cohort study looked at their population, NPSLE was found in 28.1%. This included cerebrovascular insults, seizures and psychosis.
RheumNow Podcast - Speak Up! (6.18.2021)
Dr. Jack Cush talks on education, engagement and the challenge of speaking up, if not first!
Read ArticleArtificial intelligence brings clarity to early bony changes in inflammatory arthritis
Subtle early bony changes in inflammatory arthritis can be hard even for experienced rheumatologists to interpret, even though they have traditionally been considered to become disease-defining as they progress.
Read ArticleCurrent approach to lupus and pregnancy
All of us are extremely cautious with lupus patients when it comes to pregnancy. Presentation 6888 (Common issues in pregnancy management in lupus and anti-phospholipid syndrome by Dr. Rebecca Fischer-Betz) was an excellent overview of our current approach to lupus and pregnancy.
Read ArticleQ-DAPSA for Measuring Disease Activity in PsA
Given its multiple domains, there remains much discussion over the best disease activity scoring method in PsA. The proverbial "holy grail" would be a measure that is quick, intuitive, domain comprehensive and validated.
Read ArticleDavid Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)
David Liew drdavidliew ( View Tweet)