RheumNow Podcast – Boiling Hot MAS (7.12.19) Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews this week's news and journal reports featured on RheumNow.com.

1. Swedish registry comparison of 541 PsA 40944 non-PsA pregnancies between 1997-2014, shows PsA pregnancies had increased risks for preterm birth (adj OR 1.63) and caesarean deliveries (OR 1.47), but no increased risks for pre-eclampsia, stillbirth https://buff.ly/2G7IS7j 
2. Analysis of 14 studies & 3291 Psoriatic arthritis patients shows the overall frequency of anti-CCP antibodies=9.8%. In PsA, CCP+ was associated with increased risks of polyarthritis (OR 4.4), bone erosion (2.8), and dactylitis (1.98), but not of enthesitis. https://t.co/hM11ZaskfV   
3. Study of 182 hospitalized adult-onset Still's disease patients shows predictive factors for developing macrophage activation syndrome to include: 1. Splenomegaly (OR 5.745), 2. pericarditis (OR 6.5), and 3. ferritin >2000 (OR 4.7). https://t.co/oNsaCL6O92   
4. Increased time spent in lupus low dz activity state (LLDAS) reduces healthcare costs. Among 212 SLE pts analyzed; increased cost assoc w/ damage & steroid use, but spending ≥50% of time in LLDAS resulted in a 26% reduction in direct medical cost https://t.co/Kfd064kZFX 
5. Study of 28 states and 10,268 lupus Medicaid patients showed that only 15% were adherent to HCQ  treatment. Adherence was lower in blacks living in certain zip codes but not in zip codes prevalents for Hispanic, white, education, poverty level. https://t.co/ytFXaOGKB2   
6. Metanalysis of 277 RCTs &1 million evaluated 16 nutritional supplements & 8 dietary interventions showed largely no effect on mortality and CV outcomes in adults. There was evidence favoring reduced salt & omega-3, long-chain fatty acids. https://t.co/sojx842jLt   
7. A nested case-control study of 120 SLE pts matched against 240 controls and showed the risk of serious infections was associated with serositis (OR 2.76), hematologic involvement (OR 2.53) and daily steroid (>7.5mg/d) use (OR, 2.53). https://t.co/5zqV9jsNq1 
8. Survey of 1000 customers of two adult-use cannabis retail stores in Colorado shows that 65% of adults use cannabis to relieve pain & 74% use it to promote sleep. Over 80% said that cannabis was very or extremely helpful for pain or sleep. https://t.co/euDm7yq7Rc   
9. CBD isn't entirely safe. Forbes reviews evidence of hepatotoxicity, esp with the CBD-based epilepsy drug Epidiolex; in studies 5-20% had liver issues. FDA has also warned of suicidal ideation, agitation, suicide, depression, aggression & panic attacks https://t.co/I83QVXwsl6
10. Modest Improvements of Tanezumab in Osteoarthritis Offset by Safety Data  
11. Pregnancy Outcomes Improve in Lupus