The RheumNow Week in Review – We’re Number One! (8.17.18) Save

Dr. Cush reviews the articles and news from the last week on RheumNow.com. Information on comorbidities, the downside of steroids, unmet need in psoriatic arthritis, and the top 10 rheumatology programs.

1. Does Hep C cause RA? Claims data from Taiwan looked at HCV pts and found the risk of developing RA to be lower in those treated with interferon based therapy (HR 0.63 (95% CI 0.43 to 0.94, p=0.023). vs. untreated https://t.co/gEYlnPWMTb
2. Australian Rheumatology Database comparison shows that psoriatic arthritis patients had greater odds of depression (OR 2.1), hypertension (1.7), hyperlipidemia (2.0), diabetes (2.2) & ischemic heart disease (2.0). https://t.co/ZUwUAJmUIV
3. RA patients who develop lung cancer are more likely to be diagnosed at an advanced stage and have a poorer performance scores & are less likely to receive surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or targeted therapy. https://t.co/Fre8pQQ0bL
4. Study of UK Clinical Practice Research Database shows that in #RA, steroid use assoc w/ increased risk of diabetes (OR 1.33), OP (1.41) thrombotic stroke or MI (1.28), serious infection (1.28), & death (1.33), with many of these being dose related https://t.co/RDxwpLByFA
5. Managing Comorbidity and Poor Drug Responses. 
6. There is no association between rising MCV levels and hematologic toxicity of methotrexate https://t.co/CcNfyKrTb2
7. Data from a prospective longitudinal cohort of PsA patients shows that greater Xray damage is associated with exposure to prolonged repetitive hand movements and occupations with higher level of finger dexterity https://t.co/4yrAIPFKnK
8. Unmet need in Psoriatic Arthritis! 10 Yr study of 331 PsA pts from Norway shows no increase in remission rates, no signif change in PRO's and no increase in DMARD or biologic use. Large need for T2T remission in PsA. https://t.co/dbZGyavXfY
9. Early Exposure to Passive Smoke May Up Risk for RA Later in Life   
10. Tumor Necrosis Factor Inhibitors Do Not Increase the Risk of Cancer Recurrence  
11. U.S. News 2018-19 Rheumatology Rankings 
12. Drugs causing a metallic taste? Antibiotics (including tetracycline and amoxicillin), lithium (used to treat psychiatric disorders), certain cardiac medications, and allopurinol (which treats gout and kidney stones)