RheumNow Podcast – More Than a Spot of Tea (8.2.19) Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the journal articles and news reports from the past week on RheumNow.com:

1. IL-18 may be a biomarker for Systemic JIA (Stills), higher w/ active dz and hx of MAS. Study of 40 sJIA pts finds elevated IL-18 levels inactive and active dz & with history of MAS. IL-18 was correlated w/ ferritin (R=0.74), CXCL9 (R=0.56), S100 (R=0.47) https://buff.ly/3142LEp 
2. MMP-7 levels studied in myositis pts w/ anti-synthetase syndrome (ARS) and fourd to be higher in ARS Ab+ & MDA5 Ab+ PM/DM-ILD patients, and were associated with a worse prognosis. MMP-7 levels associated w/ worse survival (OR 18.0). https://buff.ly/2Mp3Hz9   
3. A prospective 10-year study of 1,024 older women shows that severe abdominal aortic calcification (AAC) scores were associated with ncreased fracture risk (HR 1.48 [1.15-1.91], p=0.002; not fully indicated by predictors of bone structure. https://t.co/NVbo9eHcYF 
4. Observational study of 124 gouty patients with high cholesterol & triglycerides treated with ULT (febuxostat, allopurinol, benzbromarone) showed that ULT significantly lowered SUA and lipid levels too. https://t.co/JSdh3TRTX3
5. 70 #gout pts studied & 44.3% developed post-surgical flares. Risk factors included Presurgical sUA ≥ 9 mg/dL (OR 3.77) & sUA changes before and after surgery (OR 1.62); but \allopurinol reduced risk (OR 0.15). Mean time to flare=3.7 days. Knee > MTP1 https://buff.ly/2ZhsrwT 
6. NHANES analysis shows that higher serum uric acid (SUA) levels had a greater risk of coronary heart disease and stroke mortality (mainly women >50 years); but there was no link between SUA and all-cause and cancer mortality. https://t.co/UGNSiKsjQl
7. Is tea consumption associated with a risk of fractures? A metanalysis of 16 studies, 772,707 participants, high (compared to low) tea consumption was associated a lower fracture risk - RR 0.86 (0.78–0.94). https://t.co/24XYyUArS9 
8. Testosterone replacement therapy Increases the risk of CV events (MI/CVA/TIA). Study of 15,401 men, >45 yrs old, w/ low testosterone & no evidence of hypogonadotropic or testicular dz (1995-2017). HR 1.21; CI 1.0-1.46), highest in the 1st 2yrs https://t.co/nNXyFIo1EH 
9. TNF Inhibitor and Biologic Induced Psoriasis 
10. Abatacept Disappoints in Systemic Sclerosis   
11. Tofacitinib Gets a New Boxed Warning for Blood Clots and Death with Higher Doses
12. The War on RA - is being fought daily by rheumatologists - Change, Innovation and Discovery will be driven by Rheumatologists if we are to win this war. This is the 2nd of a series on the immense challenge of #RA today. We need you! https://t.co/7vOzRvvuVi