Chronic inflammation is a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and stroke. In the last year, we have reported that autoimmune disease (http://buff.ly/2lTXA8w) and herpes zoster infection (http://buff.ly/2lUjsAv) may contribute to an increased risk for cerebrovascular accidents (CVA).

Patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with onset in the modern era had significantly lower baseline and annual rates of radiographic disease progression versus those with onset before 2001, researchers in England reported.

A recent study reports that obesity is linked to late-onset psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).  By contrast being of normal weight may be associated with an earlier onset of the disease adn HLA-B27.

There is a significant unmet need with regard to counseling and managing SLE and APS patients who become pregnant or who may be planning for pregnancy.

The Washington Post has reported on the variable laws, views and use of marijuana in treating pain. Currently 1.4 million patients in 28 states use legal medical marijuana for a variety of medical conditions - chronic pain being one. Legislative changes that have allowed widespread use of medical marijuana has risen as the opioid abuse crisis has peaked in the US.

Despite recent advances in treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), MANY patients on existent biological therapy fail to achieve remission. Therapies with novel mechanisms of actions, great efficacy and well balanced safety profile remain an unmet need.

Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com:

Joint arthroplasty has grown into a billion dollar industry worldwide. However, optimal timing and the success of total joint replacements in younger patient groups has not been well studied.Age related life-time risks for revision surgery were calculated using 63,158 patients from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink undergoing total hip or total knee replacement surgery between 1991 and 2011.

Sirukumab is a human monoclonal antibody that selectively binds to the interleukin-6 (IL-6) and is being developed for use in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and other inflammatory diseases. Investigators have reported the results of the pivotal phase 3 study (SIRROUND-T), testing the efficacy and safety of sirukumab in RA. 

Switching biologic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (bDMARD) therapy after failure of a first bDMARD for the treatment of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can be effective, according to a review of the literature and PsA consensus treatment recommendations.