CDC Reverses Stance on Masks
Today the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said that masks should be used by those vaccinated against the coronavirus in public indoor spaces in parts of the country where the virus is surging.
DMARD Effects on COVID-19 Outcomes
Sparks and colleagues have published data from the Global Rheumatology Alliance noting that among rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients afflicted with COVID-19 infection, there was little influence of their baseline biologic or targeted synthetic (b/ts) disease-modifying antirheumatic drug
Canakinumab Fails to Improve COVID-19 Survival
JAMA has published the findings of trial wherein the anti–interleukin-1β antibody canakinumab (CAN) failed to improve survival in patients hospitalized with severe COVID-19.
Rare Myocarditis Risk following COVID-19 Vaccine
CDC/MMWR
MMWR review of the risk of myocarditis and pericarditis reports a June 23, 2021 recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination clearly outweighed the risks of myocarditis after vaccination.
ICYMI: RheumNow Podcast – Tofacitinib Safety Concerns
Dr. Jack Cush reviews and discusses the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.
ICYMI: 2020 Rheumatology Year in Review
2020 was historic, memorable and game-changing. Under the cloud of COVID-19, there were many significant and memorable advances and setbacks for the rheumatology world. In our accounting of most read articles for 2020, (not surprisingly) 17/20 were COVID-related.
RheumNow Podcast – As Good As I Ever Was (7.2.2021)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.
RheumNow Podcast – Modern Treatment of RA Pregnancy (6.25.2021)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews this week’s news and journal reports featured on RheumNow.com.
Birthday Gatherings Increase COVID-19 Risk
How risky are family gatherings, birthday parties and informal social gatherings? A cross-sectional analysis suggests that birthdays may be associated with increased rates of COVID-19 infection within households where there is a high COVID-19 prevalence in the population.
Treatment of MIS-C COVID in Kids
The NEJM has published results of a real-world efficacty trial showing that COVID infected children with the multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) respond better to initial IVIG plus glucocorticoids (than IVIG alone) which was associated with less subsequent cardiovascular co
Tofacitinib Efficacy in COVID-19 Pneumonia
NEJM has published the results of an observational trial wherein tofacitinib given to patients hospitalized with Covid-19 pneumonia, was shown to significantly lower risk of death or respiratory failure.
EULAR 2021 – Day 4 Report
Lots of presentations on the last day; notably, the late breaking abstracts and others. Here are a few of my favorites from Day 4.
Social
Two Week MTX Hold with COVID-19 Vaccination
A cohort study of RA patients evaluated immunogenicity of COVID vaccination with and without holding MTX for and 2-weeks and showed better immunogenicity, but more RA flares with the second MTX withdrawal.
https://t.co/Kqa8Uy9tDm https://t.co/UvMHo8xAw8
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 years 5 months ago
COVID-19 Death is Dependent on Age and Type I IFN Autoantibodies
https://t.co/WrWujgHoA4 https://t.co/NTwUeXHYKr
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 years 5 months ago
COVID-19 hospitalization among Medicare diabled was ~50% higher (3,148/100k) than age matched pop. , and hospitalization rates increased with age in both groups. Among the disabled, American Indian or Alaska Natives had highest rate https://t.co/Xa4NlalHdf https://t.co/dP0c3ajQAW
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 years 5 months ago
Review on reactive arthritis & COVID: 22 articles , 25 pts (14M:11F), age 45 yrs. Oligoarthritis was most common. Onset (COVID to arthritis) was 6-48 days. Steroids in 13, 2 w/ SSZ, Sxs improved 22/25, mean resolution was 16 +/- 57 days https://t.co/0YABcjz9Gk https://t.co/W5Vnn1NjkD
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 years 5 months ago
Spondyloarthritis and COVID-19
With the availability of vaccines and new therapeutics, many of our patients are fully vaccinated. We know this can limit their chances of severe COVID all while allowing their rheumatic disease to be treated. #EULAR2022
https://t.co/PmQNKYg1Ao https://t.co/N4DJVYJqrL
Links:
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
2 years 5 months ago
Biosimilars and COVID vaccines have made nocebo more pertinent than ever.
How do we combat it?
First line is good communication, and the foot soldiers are the right phrases.
Language matters. #EULAR2022 @RheumNow https://t.co/U0Chv9ia1G
David Liew @drdavidliew ( View Tweet )
2 years 5 months ago
Rituximab/belimumab patients & COVID vaccination response:
may have had average antibody response
but there’s still the cellular response to consider too! Not as bad.
Still caution++, but when ritux really needed we’ll find a way despite COVID
from roundup #EULAR2022 @RheumNow https://t.co/zFr6QI9TOG
David Liew @drdavidliew ( View Tweet )
2 years 5 months ago
Sreekanth et al. 2 studies re holding MTX after both doses vs only 2nd dose of AZ COVID vaccine. Either holding strategy increased ab titres. Only holding 2nd non-inferior to holding both with decreased flares @RheumNow #EULAR2022 LB0003 https://t.co/aCOEdXp4ol https://t.co/XAZyBojryK
Links:
Richard Conway @RichardPAConway ( View Tweet )
2 years 5 months ago
#EULAR2022 LB0006
SAPHYR: P3 trial, 52 wk: Sarilumab in relapsing PMR
Study terminated early due to COVID recruitment
⭐️Sustained remission: 28 vs 10%, primary endpt
⭐️HR of flare 0.56 on Sarilumab
⭐️Less steroid usage, glucocorticoid tox score
@Rheumnow https://t.co/5PP1YP7YtU
Eric Dein @ericdeinmd ( View Tweet )
2 years 5 months ago
#LB0006 #EULAR2022 Therapy for relapsing polymyalgia rheumatica. 118/280 recruited re:COVID impact. Phase 3 RCT of Sarilumab+14Wk Steroid taper showed more pts had sustained remission at Wk52 vs PBO+52Wk Steroid Taper(28% vs 10%) even if CRP excluded. PRO improved too! @RheumNow https://t.co/P11iXIAfGn
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof ( View Tweet )
2 years 5 months ago
