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COVID 19 Updates from RheumNow

Consensus Best Practices for Virtual Care in Rheumatology

The Canadian Rheumatology Association’s (CRA) Telehealth Working Group (TWG) has developed a series of best practice statements for the virtual care in adult and pediatric rheumatology patients.

ACR Fellow Training Subcommittee Report on Pandemic Experiences

Arthritis & Rheumatology has publish an ACR Subcommittee report on how the COVID-19 pandemic affected fellows and their training. 

RheumNow Podcast – What You Do For & What You Do To the Patient (4.8.2022)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week and discusses the use of fibroscan in RA, steroid hip injections in OA and famous quotes from a famous cardiologist.

FDA Authorizes 2nd Booster for Older and Immunocompromised Individuals

FDA

Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a second booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for older people and certain immunocompromised individuals.

Are Shoulder Conditions Incited by Vaccination?

A retrospective cohort study from Kaiser Permanente Southern California intramuscular vaccination given between 2016 and 2017 shows a small but significant increase in shoulder conditions, reported as an adverse event (AE) following intramuscular vaccination in the deltoid muscle. 

Consequences of TNF inhibition (3.18.2022)

This week we're going to talk about the downside of TNF inhibitors, a few interesting observations in gout, and yes, kids do get COVID. We're also going to preview what's coming in April! This and more as Dr.

Baricitinib’s COVID-19 Efficacy in the RECOVERY Trial

Pre-print results of the RECOVERY Trial has shown that when baricitinib (BAR) is given to hospitalized severe COVID-19 patients, it results in significantly less mortality.

Tocilizumab Works Best in Non-Mechanical Ventilated COVID-19 Patients

JAMA has published a meta-analysis of 15 studies of hospitalized patients with COVID-19 treated with tocilizumab and corticosteroids, showing that a clinically meaningful mortality benefit from tocilizumab (and steroids) was best seen in those not requiring invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV).

Downside of Holding Methotrexate with COVID-19 Vaccination

A recent prospective, randomized, blinded clinical trial has shown that a 2 week hold of methotrexate (MTX) following COVID-19 (Sinovac-CoronaVac) vaccination resulted in greater anti-SARS-CoV-2 immunogenicity; but there was an increase in flare rates after the second dose of vaccine.

MMWR - NFL Study on When to Be Released if COVID(+)

MMWR has reported the results of the National Football Leagues (NFL) change in SARS-CoV-2 testing program that went into effect in December 2021, at the height of the Omicron variant surge, showing that among those with asymptomatic infection, only half were PCR test negative and could return to

Diagnostic Delay in Axial Spondyloarthritis (2.25.2022)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week, rheumatologic problems incited by respiratory infections, air pollution and how you live, now where you live.

Low COVID-19 Vaccine Risks in Rheumatic Patients

Data from the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology Coronavirus Vaccine registry shows that patients with with inflammatory or noninflammatory rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease have similar adverse event rates as the general public.

Social

Problem w antibodies to prevent #COVID19 infection in rheumatic Pts is that they are not as good in variants that are more prominent ex Omicron strains. But should we use in high risk Pts ex long rituximab users? I do in this group. @RheumNow #ACR22 https://t.co/A8soYbg9ZD
1 year 4 months ago
L08 #ACR22 TIX/CIL (Evusheld) in Rheum Pts 157 pts, f/u 154 days 24 breakthrough COVID ifns (15%) 2 pts required hospitalization, rest had mild-mod symptoms No SAEs (CVD) @RheumNow
1 year 4 months ago
In a prospective cohort where MTX was withheld for 1 week post COVID vaccine, antibodies higher than other DMARDs which were continued (mostly RTX/MMF). Good to see more direct data rather than having to extrapolate from flu. @RheumNow ABST0913 #ACR22 https://t.co/YphKywNJfA

Julian Segan @JulianSegan ( View Tweet )

1 year 4 months ago
Even young SLE patients are still at high risk of severe COVID: - in general pop, age is key factor - in SLE, risk is high across age groups (maybe due to both meds & disease) - vaccination makes a big diff but SLE pts still at high risk ABST1591 @CCalabreseDO #ACR22 @RheumNow https://t.co/ra1F79ITn3
David Liew @drdavidliew ( View Tweet )
1 year 4 months ago
#ACR22 Abstr#1756 More data on safety of #COVID vaccine to cite when counselling patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA). Data from COVAX registry (over 7000 pts) showed rates of serious adverse event was low 0.3% vs 2.5% in those with non-IA RMD group @RheumNow https://t.co/iucDK1GpU4
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof ( View Tweet )
1 year 4 months ago
The pandemic has brought many challenges to our community. One of them is the lingering effects of COVID-19. #PASC #COVID #ACR22 #RheumTwitter https://t.co/AlwUHX2cao

Akhil Sood MD @AkhilSoodMD ( View Tweet )

1 year 4 months ago
All monster stories end with an unexpected award: A new order @cuttingforstone at #ACR22 tells the monster story of #covid “How will history review our story?” The science will get an A+, but we failed to learn the lessons of history All was predictable through history @RheumNow
1 year 4 months ago
Everyday heroes during #COVID19 Keynote @ACRheum Health care workers who were minorities disproportionately died in the early days of the pandemic. Can’t be all SES as risk but maybe ‘status’ as first line workers. Remember them #ACRBest #ACR22 @RheumNow @AbrahamVerghese 🙏🏻 https://t.co/AjkV5wDVEu
1 year 4 months ago
Please read my short review on early experience/data pertaining to the use of #Evusheld in patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases presented at #ACR22 @RheumNow https://t.co/JA7WsWqMmz https://t.co/MRA0mQFIu8
Md Yuzaiful Md Yusof @Yuz6Yusof ( View Tweet )
1 year 4 months ago
Does MTX dose matter for COVID mRNA vaccine immunogenicity in RA pts? Single-center (n=126) with one MTX dose WH post-each vaccine Similar humoral response Big error bars suggest other factors more important ABST0913 #ACR22 @RheumNow (not pretty graphs but data interesting!) https://t.co/FFfTWiNjUY
David Liew @drdavidliew ( View Tweet )
1 year 4 months ago