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The RheumNow Week in Review – 6 May 2016

Highlights from this week on RheumNow.com include:

  1. Registry study (ARTIS & DANBIO) of Spondyloarthritis & Psoriatic arthritis patients show NO cancer risk associated with SpA or PsA; moreover TNF inhibitor use does not augment the cancer risk in these patients. 
  2. May is lupus awareness month. 
  3. CARDERA-2 clinical trial of 154 early RA pts showed that Anakinra+MTX was not better than MTX alone- in early RA - both Xray & clinical outcomes. Questions the value of anakinra in RA.  
  4. Health Canada approves secukinumab for use in psoriatic arthritis and anklylosing spondylitis 
  5. Acute scrotal swelling in Henoch Schonlein purpura occurs in 10-30% of boys, 60% are unilateral.  Treatment with steroids? 
  6. Late onset SLE (>50yrs) patients have less cutaneous disease (malar rash, photosensitivity, livedo) but more Sicca Sx 
  7. Metanalysis: TNF inhibitors are shown to be associated with an increase risk of perioperative infections (SSI): BUT the infection risk decreases >38% with temporary cessation of TNFi before surgery. 
  8. Dr. Nicola Dalbeths #Gout review in Lancet is stellar! She's leading the field w/ DECT scans, research & smart Rx. 
  9. RheumNow posts a free download – Patient Guide to Biologics  
  10. FDA REMS/Safety Panel Backs Educational Requirements for Opioid Prescribers 
  11. Simple Referral Rule May Lead to Earlier Referral and Diagnosis of Axial Spondyloarthritis. Rule: needs to 2 of 4 to refer suspected SpA – 1) inflammatory low back pain; 2) back pain > 5 yrs.; 3) good response to NSAIDs; and 4) family history of spondyloarthritis. 
  12. CDC Updates Arthritis Numbers – 25% of US adults have arthritis. 
  13. Poor Outcomes for Dermato/Polymyositis Admitted to ICU. 
  14. Can Rituximab Change the Course of Interstitial Lung Disease.  

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Disclosures
The author has no conflicts of interest to disclose related to this subject