RheumNow Week in Review – 27 May 2016 Save

Dr. Cush reviews highlights from this week on RheumNow.com.

1. How do you manage RA flares?  I suggest : 1) know the cause; 2) optimize the Treatment regimen; 3) rule out FM, insomnia, concurrent infection; 4) Immobiliz or Inject; 5) Treating flares: NSAIDs, Analgesics, and Steroids last (prefer IA>IM>po).
2. 17.2% PM/DM patients get cancer, more common with Dermatomyositis (23%) vs Polymyositis (9%). The risk increases with older age, heliotrope rash, Gottron's, dysphagia, low CPK. https://t.co/MKarwYYjqV
3. Claims data study shows RA patients undergoing major surgery are NOT at risk for postoperative CV complications, thromboembolic events or mortality. https://t.co/nNBYt5IvzT
4. Late-onset neutropenia due to Rituxan is seen 6.5% of patients; interestingly not usually associated with resultant serious infections. No evidence that GCSF helps and retreatment with RTX is possible. https://t.co/UC699icVvC
5. The FDA has approved mandatory changes in food labels. Resulting in more details on amount and type of added sugars. Goes into effect 2018. https://t.co/z4rYm3sq5m
6. Low salt diet has been associated with more (not less) heart attacks, strokes, & deaths. Only those with  high salt diets and HTN show benefit from Low Na diet https://t.co/1RnvzzR4l1
7. ORBIT Study Shows Rituximab and TNF inhibitor Equivalence in biologic naïve RA patients.   
8. Opioid Prescriptions begin to Decline 
9. Open-label trial shows Tocilizumab to be effective in Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR)   
10. IL-23 Inhibitor Effective in Crohn's Disease 
11. Listen to the Patient…She’s Telling You the Diagnosis 
12. Dr. Kelly Krohns’ Book Review: When Breath Becomes Air