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Aging Quiets Lupus
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EurekAlert!
UCSF researchers have found that epigentic changes in interferon genes over time may lead to lupus being less active as they age. Lupus is a “classic” autoimmune disease. It causes the immune system’s first-line viral defenses — known as interferons — to attack the body. Nearly every organ is at risk, leading to conditions like kidney and heart disease. But unlike many other autoimmune or chronic illnesses, lupus can improve as patients reach their 60s and 70s.
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A New RA Approval (8.1.2025)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal reports and a new treatment for RA from the FDA.
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Study of 110 #SLE pts found 41% w/ osteoporosis, 35% of whom had Lupus nephritis (LN). SLE w/ lower BMD assoc w/ LN classes III & IV, U1-RNP Abs, high CRP, & longer Dz duration, also w/ higher age, HAQ, C3 levels. 86% were on glucocorticoids, mean age 48 yrs. https://t.co/dqutqbvnjB
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RHEUMATOLOGIST Survey: How has your career/practice evolved in the last 20 years? Click here>>https://t.co/wyKkdUQclz
a. just getting started…
b. More research &scholarship
c. Growing a successful practice
d. Greater knowledge and expertise
e. Closer to burn-out
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French retrospective observational study of Bx/CT/PET Dx of 380 #GCA pts found 7.6% (29) w/ Nl baseline CRP < 10 mg/L at Dx. GCA w/ low CRP had less fever, more ocular Dz (ant ischemic optic neuropathy 28 vs 13%), & limb claudication (24 vs. 8%) but equal relapse rates https://t.co/fPy92NjJzS
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Annals of Family Medicine pub a machine learning study that predicts clinic "no-shows" w/ 85% accuracy & late cancellations w/ 92% accuracy. Data derived from >1.1 million appointments from 15 family medicine clinics in Pennsylvania between 2019 and 2023. https://t.co/462fwmEGJl https://t.co/n5vIbtKFu0
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CCL17 is a downstream mediator of GM-CSF. Drug repurposing review of FDA approved Rx shows 5 Rx w/ anti-CCL17 effects - fluoxetine, ractopamine, ponesimod, terbutaline & etravirine, w/ inhibition of STAT5, IRF4 & CCL17 & shows antiinflamm effects in RA animal model https://t.co/2aTyZMWPJn
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FDA Approves Vagal Nerve Stimulator for RA
SetPoint Medical announced the FDA approved the SetPoint System, a neuroimmune modulation treatment for moderate-to-severe rheumatoid arthritis (RA), for patients not well-managed or cannot tolerate—existing RA therapies like https://t.co/McheSz30dl
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TriNetX study of E-health record study of ~53k transcatheter aortic valve intervention (TAVI) pts. 705 were on preoperative colchicine - these had signif reduction of post-TAVI heart block and AV/LBBB (RR 0.867 [95% CI, 0.756–0.994]) @ 1 month, but not at 6 months https://t.co/9tI2KFY7u7
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“There are a terrible lot of lies going about the world, and the worst of it is that
half of them are true.” – Winston Churchill
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HCQ Preserves Renal Function in Lupus Nephritis
Lupus nephritis (LN) patients on long-term therapy with hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) showed significantly less decline in renal function, compared with patients treated otherwise, a 10-year retrospective study indicated. https://t.co/YpJGpAysUQ
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Top 20 Best Rheumatology Hospitals - 2025
Each year, U.S. News ranks hospitals in 15 specialties and for the 8th year in a row Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore has been named the top hospital for rheumatology by U.S. News & World Report.
https://t.co/gBA49giwX7 https://t.co/sObhLxgrBf
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MTX or TNFi use in elderly #RA pts w/in a year of Dx of melanoma was not associated with increased mortality. This included melanoma in situ (48%), localized (47%) and regional (5%) melanoma. Steroid use however was assoc w/ reduced survival. https://t.co/QOXfEf51S1 https://t.co/GZ5dedEMfM
Links:
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Rituximab is not Superior in EGPA
A cohort study of Eosinophilic Granulomatosis With Polyangiitis (EGPA) patients from the French Vasculitis Study Group failed to show superiority of rituximab compared to conventional strategy with glucocorticoids (GS) alone or in combination https://t.co/h4B20Ngamj
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FDA is evaluating the safety of Vyvgart Hytrulo, ((efgartigimod) used to treat AChR Ab positive generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG). But in clinical trials there are reports of "severe worsening of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP)” https://t.co/KN7ZZ2LWPW
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PMR & GCA not assoc w/ increased mortality, Norway study of 274 isolated PMR (mean age 72 yrs) & 63 GCA (age 72 yrs) pts. After mean F/U 13.7 yrs 96% were deceased. Standardized mortality ratio was Not incr for PMR (0.97)or GCA (1.10), but men w/ PMR had , lower all-cause https://t.co/wbiVhjCimk
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Pregnant Women on TNFi more likely to use throughout gestation, w/ less steroids. 3711 preg on TNFi in 49,925 F (w/ RA, AS, PsA, PsO, IBD) -- 64% had 3 trimester TNFi use. 89% exposed preconception & 68% cont postpartum. TNFi use incr from 55% to 73% i(20111-21) https://t.co/DVvbwx6MoW
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TriNetX study of E-health record study of ~53k transcatheter aortic valve intervention (TAVI) pts. 705 were on preoperative colchicine - these had signif reduction of post-TAVI heart block and AV/LBBB (RR 0.867 [95% CI, 0.756–0.994]) @ 1 month, but not at 6 months https://t.co/wuwlzE22q2
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Rheumatology Salaries Remain Low
The annual Medscape Physician Compensation report was published and shows only modest salary gains for most specialists.
https://t.co/NcmwrMxpKr https://t.co/mxFbqtUQv2
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