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COVID 19 Updates from RheumNow

Allergic Drug-Induced Arthritis (5.19.2023)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.  This week we delve into some odd associations, repeat drug warnings and the consequences of antirheumatic therapies.

One in Ten is Bad! (5.12.2023)

This week on the Podcast Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles, including the risks of dying, developing RA or autoimmune disease!

  1. Does King Charles have Sausage Digits (dactylitis) or OA? https://t.co/mRis21OWKH

2022 EULAR Recommendations on Screening and Prophylaxis for Opportunistic Infections

Opportunistic and chronic infections may be rare and are often difficult to diagnose, especially in patients with autoimmune inflammatory rheumatic diseases (AIIRD), that may be immunocompromised. A EULAR task force has established recommendations for screening and prophylaxis against OI. 

Industry Payments to Rheumatologists Dropped During COVID

MedPage Today

Having their clinics shut down and patients staying away during the COVID-19 pandemic was bad enough for physicians' finances, but now a new study finds that, at least for rheumatologists, payments from industry dried up as well.

Faith and Miracle Larry

This week on the podcast, Dr. Jack Cush recalls what life was like early on during COVID, from March to June of 2020.  During this time, his close friend, Larry, contracted COVID-19 and was hospitalized, intubated and put on mechanical ventilation for nearly 2 months.

2022 Rheumatology Year in Review (1-6-2023)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the best of 2022 in Rheumatology - highlights on new drug indications, breakthrough lupus therapies, new biosimilars and the multivitamin letdown.

Best of 2022: Freeze Tag

Editor's note: this blog originally published on January 22, 2022, and is being shared again as a Best of 2022. Enjoy!

COVID-19 Vaccine Responses in Rheumatic Disease Patients

Nature Reviews Rheumatology features a review of three notable papers that address the impact of SARS-CoV-2 vaccination on people with inflammatory rheumatic disease. 

Vaccine Efficacy in Patients with Seronegative Spondyloarthritis

Vaccine efficacy remains an important and highly discussed topic at this year’s annual meeting given the ongoing COVID-19 global health crisis, current influenza season, and recently published 2022 ACR guidelines for vaccinations in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.

Does Evusheld shield people living with rheumatic diseases?

Fast forward nearly 3 years since the first case of COVID-19 was reported, and I am amazed of the speed of response on how to keep our patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD) safe from this infection.

Long COVID and Rheumatic Disease

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact worldwide particularly among those who are immunocompromised. Numerous studies have highlighted the increased risk of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with rheumatic diseases (RD).

Creaky Joints Presentations at ACR Convergence 2022

The patient advocacy organization CreakyJoints will present 13 scientific posters at this year's ACR Convergence 2022 and 8 posters as part of the patient perspectives track. Below is a sampling of these scientific posters. 

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Factors associated with higher prevalence of post COVID-19 condition include female sex, age, asthma, diabetes, hypertension, number of symptoms in the acute phase and possible mechanisms causing the syndrome, Mayssam Nehme, COVID-19, #EULAR2023 https://t.co/IzHEQqfPb1
Dr. Antoni Chan @synovialjoints ( View Tweet )
2 hours 40 minutes ago
Reflections on COVID-19 and autoimmunity: post-vaccination autoimmunity is not specific to COVID-19, autoimmunity is not autoimmune disease, the large numbers may result in the perception of increased occurrence of autoimmunity, Schulze-Koops H, COVID-19, #EULAR2023 @RheumNow https://t.co/Rm9OEWrBzo
Dr. Antoni Chan @synovialjoints ( View Tweet )
3 hours 8 minutes ago
Factors related to having a flare of arthritis during COVID-19 include female gender, higher disease activity, no DMARD at time of vaccination. Stopping DMARDs need to be weighed up against risk of flares, Pedro Machado, COVID-19 #EULAR2023 @RheumNow https://t.co/3sd32tF2kW
Dr. Antoni Chan @synovialjoints ( View Tweet )
3 hours 48 minutes ago
Lit review of 2236 articles found only 28 w/ Post-COVID autoimmune Dx (64% F; age 51 yrs) - that included 11 (39) IIM (w/ 4 DM); 7 (25%) SLE; 4 (14%) anti-synthetase syndrome; 4 (14%) SSc; 1 lupus/MCTD overlap. Mean onset 23.7 d post COVID https://t.co/jtRaqIBGH1 https://t.co/WilcRFNAL9
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 weeks 2 days ago
in 2022 COVID slid from the #3 to the #4 cause of death in USA, accounting for nearly a quarter million deaths, a 47 percent decrease from the 462,193 Covid-related deaths in 2021. Most COVID deaths occured in the first few mos of 2022 https://t.co/qervCp0P87 https://t.co/WN7DvsFhNC
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
3 weeks 3 days ago
COVID had a significant effect on mental health of inflammatory rheumatic Dz (IRDs) pts. UK NHS survey of 639 IRD (70% RA, 16% PsA) saw 40% w/ mod/severe pandemic impact on physical & mental health; 29% w/ depression, 22% anxiety; affecting Women>males https://t.co/kcAwa2Lks2 https://t.co/R6tk2aOrGQ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
1 month 2 weeks ago
Industry Payments to Rheums Dropped During COVID Having their clinics shut down and patients staying away during the COVID-19 pandemic was bad enough for physicians' finances, but now a new study finds that payments from industry dried up as well. https://t.co/jsxw23tTyY https://t.co/5PiaRpiSa4
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
1 month 2 weeks ago

Anakinra Phase 2/3 study in severe hosp. COVID-19 pts (5/20-3/21) w/ pneumonia & hyperinflammation (incr levels IL-6, ferritin, CRP, LDH). 179 pt Rx w/ ANA or SOC - d15 need for Mech ventilation was 77% ANAK v 86% SoC (NS; RR 0.90; 0.77-1.04) https://t.co/CFcI1qTsU2 https://t.co/wAj4pHN5Dh

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
1 month 2 weeks ago
Paxlovid (Nirmatrelvir-Ritonavir) should be used w/in 5d of COVID Sxs onset. Drug interactions include: steroids, anticoagulants (Eliquis, Xarelto, warfarin), Flomax, Calcium channel blockers, benzodiazepines. https://t.co/VZpS1z3OGR https://t.co/hR6JAJ3BBO
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
1 month 4 weeks ago
Autoimmune-Rheum Dz (AIRD) flares occur in 10% w/ COVID vaccination, esp in pts w/ comorbidities, autoimmune morbidities & mental health disorders & Moderna vaccine. 3453 AIRD pts who recv Vax 9.5-11.3% had clinical flares (Arthritis 62% & fatigue 59%) https://t.co/C0WA2Znixl https://t.co/vXzL8XR7kd
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 months ago
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