RheumNow Week in Review – 23 September 2016 Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews highlights, news and articles from the past week at RheumNow.com:

1. Autoimmune thyroiditis is signif incr. in vitiligo, RA, PMR, DM, Sjogren, MS, SLE, sarcoid, alopecia, PSS, HCV-cryo https://t.co/ODTgbSRHIi
2. $990 Billion spent on #Osteoporosis Rx in 2013. 22% ($756B) on brand name drugs. Generics use varied 57-86 %. https://t.co/9KKHazmJrp
3. Review of Gout & anti-HTN meds:showed that diuretics, Beta-blockers, α-1 blockers significantly increased uric acid levels. No effect w/ CCB, ACEI https://t.co/LnUTfz3zab
4. Pegloticase failure is often linked to PEG Abs – a case report shows the drug may be improved/tolerated by concomitant Imuran use. https://t.co/9j5EaBlq3B
5. Analysis of the early RA REACH cohort showed that decreasing the RA diagnostic criteria cutoff from 6 to 5 points – increased sensitivity by 15% and lowered specificity by 8%. https://t.co/2H8ewvss18
6. Nurses Health Study shows women w/ gout have 38% increased risk hip fractures. https://t.co/MxZeMA5Tho
7. JIA Uveitis patients who are refractory to MTX, DMARDs or TNFi were successfully Rx with Tocilizumab; 10/17 responsed after 5.7 mos and 7 were steroid sparing. https://t.co/eDoX3w5g7L
8. Periprosthetic fracture after Hip Replacement is higher in women, older, RA, revision surgery, and those with a history of AVN or osteoporosis. https://t.co/0QiT0OjV76
9. Compared to controls In Sweden, Hip fracture is 50-89% higher in RA: 10% lower in OA women; not explained by BMD https://t.co/jmFVKVbELv
10. In Spain, after a first negative PPD, finding a 2nd PPD+ in 1st 1-2 yrs while on TNFI occurs in 4.3%. These seroconverters with repeat PPD are thought to be LTBI https://t.co/f7anCsSvma
11. Preclinical RA arthralgia patients who develop RA shown to decrease CD8, CD80 T cells, memory B cells in the 2 yrs prior to RA onset. https://t.co/JnzrYWiATB
12. DECT imaging studies in gout patients shows that Erosions occur from the outside in (not inside out as in RA). https://t.co/WzHfjYIXQv
13. After the 1st TNF Inhibitor, a Non-TNF Biologic is Next Best 
14. Wearable Activity Trackers Don't Improve Weight Loss
15. Demyelinating Disease is a Rare Complication of TNF Inhibition.
16. Anabolic Abaloparatide Looks Promising in Osteoporosis Fracture Prevention
17. Restricting High Price Drugs - A Dangerous Trend?