Numerous studies have shown that gout hospitalizations have increased in the last decade. Also worrisome is a new studiy showing that patients admitted to the hospital are less likely to have received recommended urate-lowering treatment (ULT). (Abstract OP0262 - http://buff.ly/2roN7SF)

The heat was on at EULAR 2017 for busy presenters and attendees navigating the 104F degree temperatures at the indoor/outdoor IFEMA Convention center in Madrid.Day 2 (Thursday) were big days for gout, drug safety, psoriatic arthritis and spondyloarthritis. Gout

Today I came across two interesting sessions given by Gossec Laure from France and William Dixon from the United Kingdom. They talked about digital epidemiology in this changing world, as there are approximately 15 billion connected devices and more than 80,000 medical apps.

Pegloticase is indicated for treatment of patients with refractory gout. One major issue hampering the comfort levels of rheumatologists to use this agent is the boxed warning in the package insert regarding the documentation of anaphylaxis with the infusions.  It is well known that treatment with pegloticase is associated with the development of anti-drug antibodies, which are believed to belie these reactions.

Lxekizumab performs well in TNF nonresponders phase 3 trial.With more IL17 inhibitors becoming available for treatment of seronegative spondyloarthropathies, the question of efficacy and safety in different clinical scenarios arises. The phase 3 PsA SPIRIT-P2 trial involving 363 patients with PsA who failed or could not tolerate 1-2 TNFi randomized patients into 3 groups: PBO, IXE 80 mg q 2 weeks and IXE 80 mg q 4 weeks. Normal 0

Today's session, Treat to target in axSpA: reality or utopia?, was opened with a presentation by Dr. Jurgen Braun (Herne, Germany), who masterfully reintroduced us to the treat-to-target concept in spondyloarhtropathies.

 The Annual EULAR Congress kicked off this afternoon in Madrid with a number of new sessions devoted to important topics. 

The first day of EULAR 2017 highlighted a symposium focus on the advances in wearable technologies. Several lectures updated attendees with the state of wearables in society and their implications on public health, fitness, weight loss and clinical trials.

Rheumatic IRAEs from checkpoint inhibitor therapy are growing rapidly in scope and rheumatologists must be aware of these complications, as they are certain to encounter this type of patient.