The RheumNow Week in Review - 26 May 2017

Jack Cush, MD

May 26, 2017 1:12 pm

Dr. Jack Cush Reviews highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com:

Study of 24 erosive RA pts shows addition of anabolic teriparatide did not significantly reduce the rate/volume of erosions http://buff.ly/2rh1hsO
Swedish study 27k+ AS, PsA and uSpA are at increased risk for Acute Coronary syndrome & stroke events https://t.co/Zq49quPo3T
β-Defensin2 is a biomarker reflects IL-17A-driven skin dz in psoriasis, not PsA. Highly correlates w/ PASI & IL-17A https://t.co/JmCmMIN0Cq Study of 8 pts controls the expression of 170 proteins in blood, nonlesional skin, and lesional skin
Tight control (TC) trial in PsA (TiCOPA) shows that TC is twice costly & QALYs- not cost-effective in most analyses https://t.co/MxFR1wjl8N
Claims data on 2495 JIA pts shows significantly more serious bacterial infx w/ TNFi use (HR 2.72) compared to DMARDs https://t.co/CKu9oIOzlj
Among 323 ANCA-Assoc Vasculitis pts, CTX Rx(SIR 3.1) had 4.6 more cancers than RTX (SIR 0.67); RTX = pop Cancer rate https://t.co/NZnCbMOGQt
Kevzara (Sarilumab) the 2nd IL-6 inhibitor approved for use in RA; priced at $39K, 30% below competition https://t.co/mzIOOhEnMe https://t.co/2U3J2sskum
FDA approves Actemra as1st approved drug to treat Giant Cell Arteritis, based on GiACTA study. https://t.co/73UieZpbn1 https://t.co/HjUzi0H6OL PI says its to be given with a tapering course of steroids. https://t.co/SCaiX1FDQx
ACR supports FDA draft on interchangeability, naming suffixes & Biosimilar User Fee Act; but not extrapolation- huh? https://t.co/5aKzmwul2N
Survey of 364 UK RA pts shows that giving info on TNFi helps 1/3 and scares 1/3. Many misconceptions about safety https://t.co/lM8gxjjulk
Dr Erkan says secondary THROMBOSIS prevention- Venous-rx warfarin keep INR 2-3; Arterial - warfarin keep INR 2-3 + ASA, or INR 3-4 w/o ASA
Dr Forum Erkan says catastrophic antiphospholipid syndrome should be Rx with anticoagulation, steroids, IVIG w/ plasma exchange (+/- RTX)
Anti-Sclerostin Drug -Romosozumab (EVENITY) Hampered by Heart Problems
Anti-IL-5 Success in Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis
NLRP3 Activation in Still's Disease