JAMA Dermatology has proposed an initial validation of classification criteria for discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE), primarily for research purposes, but with clinical applicatility.

On August 18th, Gilead and Galapagos received a complete response letter from the FDA, which will delay consideration of filgotinib for the treatment of moderate-to-severe RA.

In a head-to-head trial against methotrexate, JAK1 inhibition with upadacitinib was shown to be more effective in early, DMARD-naive RA patients. Here are the primary results.

Topical nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are recommended as first-line therapy in a new guideline for treating acute, non-low back pain from musculoskeletal injuries in outpatient settings.

JAMA Network Open reports that after adjusting for inflammation, lupus anticoagulant (LA) is significantly increased (positive) in COVID-19 patients and that LA positivity was associated with incidence risk of thrombotic events.

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a progressive autoimmune disorder that causes premature death, usually from lung, GI, or renal disease. While treatment efforts have been frustrating advances in care may have altered the risk of death according to population data showing that while SSc mortality increased from 1968 through 2000, it has declined since 2001.

Dr. Jack Cush updates the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com, with information on enthesitis, nr-Ax-SpA, UAB, Blockbuster Rheum Drugs and use of ACE inhibitors.

Along with our patients, we've spent the last several months adapting to telemedicine. Following is an update on legislative changes and uncertainties, a look at the care gap that may still exist, and examining the trajectory of telemedicine after the initial rapid growth spurred by COVID-19.

Several recent publications have focused on the risk and outcomes of rheumatic disease (RDD) and autoimmune patients who become infected with SARs-CoV-2.

Following are the latest CDC numbers for COVID-19 in the U.S., including total cases and deaths; the states with the highest number of COVID-19 deaths; and COVID-19 healthcare case numbers.

Cachexia is an underappreciated complication of systemic lupus erythematosus, researchers reported. A total of 56.3% of patients developed the involuntary weight loss accompanied by loss of homeostatic control of protein and energy balance within 5 years of enrollment into a prospective cohort study, according to George Stojan, MD, of Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore, and colleagues.

Risk factors for perioperative infections include age, comorbidity, rheumatoid arthritis and steroids to name a few; whether concurrent use of TNF inhibitor (TNFI) therapy adds to this risk has been debated. In a study of elderly patients receiving infliximab infusions, infliximab use prior to surgery did not change the risk of post-operative infections.

An observational study of patients with systemic autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIRD) who also had COVID-19 disease shows that AIRD increased the risk of hospitalization, but that the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) were not associated with hospitalization.

The PREVENT trial was a one year, phase III study that showed significant benefits when secukinumab (SEC) was given to patients with active non‐radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr‐axSpA) for 52 weeks.

Since the start of the pandemic, my emotions have swung like the pendulum of the hydroxychloroquine efficacy/inefficacy for COVID-19 debate. Stress has always been a part of my life, but it magnified with the recent events in our world. Dr. Lenny Calabrese had cited the benefits of mindfulness meditation to improve immunologic health and sharpen mental acuity. I had seen benefits in my patients, but never could do it myself. How can