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The Inflammation Reflex (5.20.2022)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week, neuroimmunology leading to therapy, the cold shoulder approach and Regulatory updates from the FDA.
Read ArticleRising Incidence of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Data from Olmstead county, MN over the past four decades shows that the incidence and prevalence of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is increasing.
SLE was diagnosed using the EULAR/ACR criteria and looked at patients seen between 1976–2018.
Read ArticleAcute Inflammatory Responses Needed to Resolve Chronic Pain
Science Translational Medicine has published results of a Canadian study of low back pain (LBP) suggests that pain control by anti-inflammatory treatments might have negative effects on pain duration and may be counterproductive for long-term pain outcomes.
Read ArticleMethotrexate Monitoring (5.13.2022)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. Bad news for digitial ulcers in Systemic sclerosis, Readmissions in Lupus and Thrombocytopenia in APL patients.
Read ArticleCan You Reduce Frequency of Methotrexate Monitoring?
Observational research presented at the British Society for Rheumatology meeting suggest that, based on the COVID-19 pandemic experience, reduced frequency of routine lab monitoring in patients receiving weekly methotrexate therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) was not associated with an increase in adverse outcomes.
Read ArticleASCORE: Seropositivity Favors Abatacept Drug Survival
The ASCORE (Abatacept SubCutaneOus in Routine clinical practicE) study evaluated efficacy, safety, and drug retention (durability) of abatacept (ABA) moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and found consistently better ABA durability in those who were seropositive.
Read ArticleMaking You the Expert of You! (Smart Rules for Patients)
You’ve scheduled an appointment with your medical provider - how do you make the most of it? We've gathered these tips and suggestions to share with patients.
Read ArticleAllopurinol Use Does Not Increase Mortality in Gout with Chronic Kidney Disease
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
Read ArticleArthritis Predicts Hepatic Fibrosis in Hemochromatosis
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.
Read ArticleTNR - Controversies in PsA
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:
Read ArticleMale vs. Female Responders (4.15.2022)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal Reports from the past week on RheumNow.com - including fellowship COVID-19 concerns, the limits of T2T in gout and the real odds of RA remission with your first biologic.
Read ArticleNo Benefit to More Intensive Urate Lowering in Gout
While treat-to-target (T2T) is commonly advocated in gout management, it is unknown if T2T (or more intensive T2T) may result in less bony erosions in gout.
Read ArticleLinks:
Comorbidity Drives Risk of Death in Gout Patients
A study of men with gout from the US Veteran’s Health Administration (VHA) shows that excess mortality in gout could be attributed to comorbidities.
Read ArticleConsequences of TNF inhibition (3.18.2022)
This week we're going to talk about the downside of TNF inhibitors, a few interesting observations in gout, and yes, kids do get COVID. We're also going to preview what's coming in April (hint: it's about PsA). This and more as Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
Read ArticleIndividualized Therapy in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Whether patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) would improve substantially with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitor therapy was predicted with moderate to high accuracy based only on a standard lab test and two measures of disease activity, researchers reported from a modeling study.
Read ArticleEfficacy and Safety of Mavrilimumab in Giant Cell Arteritis
A phase II trial in patients with active giant cell arteritis shows that mavrilimumab, a monoclonal antibody against granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor [GM-CSF]) is capable of inducing clinical remission.
Read ArticlePredicting Spondylitis in At-Risk Relatives
The risk of developing axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) if you’re a first-degree relative (FDRs) of an ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patient has been deflined by a 35 year follow-up study showing that if you are a FDR of axSpA you may be at higher risk of acute anterior uveitis (AAU).
Read ArticleRheumNow Live is Coming to Town (3.11.2022)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
Read ArticleIncreased SLE Flares with Hydroxychloroquine Reduction
Concerns about the long-term safety of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) often results in dose reduction or drug discontinuation; yet a current study shows that, for those in remission, HCQ taper/discontinuation resulted in a significantly higher rate of SLE flares.
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