RheumNow Podcast- 2019 EULAR RA Guidelines (1.31.20) Save

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

1. CORRONA study of ~800 RA patients shows that high and low comorbidity scores and BMI status (obese BMI ≥ 30; n = 356 vs nonobese BMI < 30; n = 449) did not impair or alter the effectiveness of tocilizumab.  http://bit.ly/38TExR6
2. Growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15) is a myokine is upregulated in myositis, may be a biomarker. 35 pts w/ idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM) had twice the levels of controls (625 vs 326 pg/ml, p = 0.01); also seen in inclusion body myositis https://t.co/4pKIXtfAy5
3. Novel new research shows that Monosodium urate (MSU) crystals activation of inflammatory pathways. MSU activates macrophages and fibroblasts to induced TAK1 (TGF-β-activated kinase 1) leading to amplified IL-1β-induced IL-6, IL-8, and CXCL5 https://t.co/hwWKH9qRCe
4. Prospectively study of neuropsychiatric (NP) events in1827 SLE - found that NP-SLE occured in 52%; with 31% directly attributed to SLE. Risk of NP-SLE was highest in the first 2 years (RR 6.16) and mortality risk was higher in NP-SLE pts ((16% vs 7%) https://t.co/03wfX5SxNm
5. Study of 260 TB patients treated with pyrazinamide or fluoroquinolones showed a higher risk of joint pain (mostly ankles knees) with FQN (29%) vs PZA (17%); median latency was 55 days vs 138 days; half had hyperuricemia. https://t.co/ylc4Az0yOz
6. ENTRACTE trial studied the risk of major adverse CV events (MACE) in 3080 RA pts Rx with tocilizumab (TCZ) vs etanercept (ETN), and found no increased risk of MACE in TCZ patients compared to ETN (HR 1.05 (95% condence interval 0.77–1.43). https://t.co/QxOlzfDcZD
7. Administrative claims study from British Columbia showed the risk of type 2 diabetes is significantly lower in SLE pts taking Plaquenil (HCQ). 1,498 SLE pts (91% F) were followed 4.6 yrs with 140 incident T2DM; lower HR (0.61) for those adherent to HCQ https://t.co/OqUQtHz6Hf 
8. New ACR guidelines for OA hip/knee give a conditional recommendation for Balance exercises. https://t.co/2YLKuhZ92M A systematic review of 11 studies shows Knee OA pts at risk for falls. Risk factors: impaired balance, weakness, comorbidities, # of joints https://t.co/fAzYHtIpEM
9. 2019 EULAR Recommendations for the Management of Rheumatoid Arthritis