Everything will be alright in the end; and if it’s not alright, then it’s not yet the end. – Suni Kapoor (from the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel)

The Washington Post recently interviewed Dr. Eliza Chakavarty of the OMRF about the evolution in attitudes and outcomes of lupus women who wish to get pregnant. Better understanding of the interplay between lupus activity and pregnancy outcomes, along with better medication, allows the discussion between hopeful patients and planful rheumatologists to be constructive ones. 

The results of the Nor-Switch study were presented at the United European Gastroenterology annual congress this week demonstrating no significant difference in effect, adverse effects or antibody formation in patients switched from Remicade to the biosimilar infliximab (CT-P13, Remsima). Outcomes were compared to those who continued to take IV Remicade.

Researchers from the University of British Columbia reported on their systematic review and meta-analysis of risk of herpes zoster (HZ) in patients receiving biologics, DMARDs and/or corticosteroids for autoimmune diseases.

Pfizer has announced it will ship its new FDA-approved biosimilar, Inflectra, in late November and that it will be priced at a15 percent discount to current wholesale prices.Inflecta's generic name is infliximab-dyyb.  This same agent is already available in Europe. This would be the first biosimilar TNF inhibitor to become available in the United States.

This is written as a check-up to your digital self and a wake-up call to those of you who are disconnected lazily or willfully. This is written for the journal-subscribing, big textbook toting physicians whose primary education is acquired at the medical library, weekly medical conferences or grandiose annual conventions. Before you bail out on this blog, you should recognize the consequences of not being digital.

A Lancet meta-analysis has reviewed the preventative effects of low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) on placenta-mediated pregnancy complications include pre-eclampsia, late pregnancy loss, placental abruption, and birth of a small-for-gestational-age (SGA) neonate.Because of significant heterogeneity in past trial results, they performed an individual patient data meta-analysis.

A recent article published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology presented new recommendations for screening of patients being managed with hydroxychloroquine that changed the previous monitoring paradigm. More importantly, it has repositioned hydroxychloroquine from one of the safest medications that rheumatologists use to a drug that can have potentially significant ocular morbidity (if used in doses greater than 5 mg per kilogram and or

Dr Jack Cush reviews highlights from the news and journal articles appearing this week on RheumNow.com:

Rheumatologists have been challenged to treat hepatitis C virus (HCV)-induced rheumatic disease since discovery of the virus in 1989. For years, standard treatment was interferon (IFN)-based and associated with significant toxicity and a low likelihood of virologic cure (5% for IFN monotherapy to 50% with PEGylated IFN plus ribavirin).

People who regularly smoke large amounts of cannabis have reduced bone density and are more prone to fractures, research has found. The study also found that heavy cannabis users have a lower body weight and a reduced body mass index (BMI), which could contribute to thinning of their bones.

In this video, Michelle Petri, MD, director of the Hopkins Lupus Center at Johns Hopkins University, discusses recent successes and challenges in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, with clinical trials results ranging from "wildly positive" to "completely negative.""What we're learning in lupus is that B cells aren't going to be the only target," she explained.