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ICD-10 Grace Period Ends October 1st
A year ago, physicians panicked with a new and formidable change in practice called ICD-10. This newer and more complex coding system had the angst of Y2K and nearly as much true trouble - largely because of the "relaxed" stance taken by CMS with its introduction.
Read ArticleLupus Patients at Higher Risk for Heart Failure
Although cardiovascular disease and complications have been well-described in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the association between SLE and heart failure (HF) remains undefined.
Read ArticleShingles Plus Autoimmune Disease Hikes Stroke Risk
Patients with autoimmune inflammatory diseases who develop herpes zoster are at increased risk of stroke for the subsequent 3 months, with risks diminishing thereafter, analysis of Medicare data showed.
Read ArticleP. Gingivalis Antibodies Antedate Rheumatoid Arthritis Onset
Periodontal disease, gingivitis and Porphyromonas gingivalis have been linked to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the production of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA).
Read ArticleFlares Portend Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis - Time for a New Strategy?
Disease flares are common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), often causing patients to seek additional care, if not medication.
The frequency of flares varies amongst studies in different populations. But the consequence of flares has only recently been studied.
Read ArticleNailfold Capillaroscopy Excludes Scleroderma in Raynaud’s
Nailfold capillaroscopy test had impressive 90% negative predictive value for Systemic Sclerosis (SSc)
Read ArticleAutoimmune Disease as Harbinger of Myelodysplasia
Myelodysplastic syndrome may infrequently present with inflammatory or autoimmune symptoms. This literature review shows a variety of presentations and treatment options for such patients.
Read ArticleRheumatologists May be Unaware of New Hydroxychloroquine Retinopathy Monitoring Guidelines
Rheumatologists are well-acquainted with the rules for hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) retinopathy screening: A) annual visits to the ophthalmologist and B) maintain HCQ doses at less than 6.5 mg/kg to avoid retinopathy.
Read ArticleRheumNow Week in Review – 12 August 2016
Watch Dr. Cush review 13 highlights from this week on RheumNow.
Read ArticleRAPID3: An Effective Assessment Tool in Spondyloarthritis
Serial biomarker or clinical metric assessments are ubiquitous and commonly used to assess patients with rheumatoid arthritis (HAQ, CDAI, RAPID3), lupus (C3, C4, dsDNA) and gout (uric acid). But numerous disorders are either harder to assess or have tools or metrics that that are not commonly used.
Read ArticleProblems with Red Flags in Diagnosing Low Back Pain
There is considerable heterogeneity in "red flags" amongst numerous low back pain (LBP) guidelines worldwide. A "red flags" denotes a finding, which if present, imparts a significantly high risk of underlying serious spinal pathology with considerable subsequent morbidity or mortality.
Read ArticleRheumNow Week in Review - 29 July 2016
Dr Jack Cush reviews this week's highlights from RheumNow.com.
Read ArticleNovel Rise of Combined Dermatology-Rheumatology Clinics
Rheumatology News has a novel online report about combined rheumatology-dermatology clinics. In the last several years, there have been a few of these in operation (Boston, Chicago, Rhode Island).
Read ArticlePredictors of Progression in Early Inflammatory Polyarthritis
A substantial, but unclear, percentage of patients presenting with new onset inflammatory polyarthritis (IP) will spontaneously remit, while others may persist and develop rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Read ArticleTendon Inflammation May Signal Early RA
Tenosynovitis may represent a preclinical phase of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
Read ArticleSimple Referral Rule May Lead to Earlier Referral and Diagnosis of Axial Spondyloarthritis
Early referral and diagnosis remains a challenge for many who care for patients with musculoskeletal complaints. This is especially so in those with chronic low back pain (LBP) and the minority who will have ankylosing spondylitis or axial spondyloarthritis.
Read ArticlePoor Outcomes for Dermato/Polymyositis Admitted to ICU
Idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) may be complicated with life-threatening conditions requiring intensive care unit (ICU) admission. The outcomes of such complications may be dire, but there are few series addressing the outcomes of those admitted to the ICU.
Read ArticleChoosing ANA Tests Wisely - Education Fosters Smarter Use
It is estimated that 21% of laboratory tests are requested inappropriately. Researchers have explored the impact of educational programs for rheumatologists working at three rheumatology departments in secondary and tertiary care centers in The Netherlands.
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 ArticleAAOS Guidelines on Carpal Tunnel Diagnosis
Three million Americans are diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome each year.
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