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COVID 19 Updates from RheumNow

Can "Ultra-low" dose Rituximab work for RA?

At day 3 of ACR Convergence 2021, the REDO trial presented data in abstract 1443 in an oral presentation challenging how low we can go with rituximab for rheumatoid art

Day 4 Report from ACR21

My favorite three presentations from day 4 at ACR 2021 included the following:

Breakthrough Infections in Rheumatic Disease Patients

ACR21 – Day 3 Report

Hitting the home stretch, day 3 presentations were big! Here are a few of my favorites:

Secukinumab Efficacy in Enthesitis-Related and Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis.

ACR21 Best Abstracts We Saw - Day 3 (Monday)

The third day of ACR 2021 took a big leap in online content.  Here is a compilation (with links) of presentations were the “ACRBest” as seen by our RheumNow faculty. 

ACR21 Best Abstracts - Day 2

The RheumNow faculty reporters have been scouring and reporting on the best abstracts from the ACR. Here is a sampling of their choice abstract presentations reported during ACR 2020 Day 2 (#ACRbest).

ACR21 Best Abstracts - Day 1

The RheumNow faculty have been glued to their monitors all day, watching video, and running down abstract presentations to find the best – several of these stood out as #ACRBests. Here is a listing of “Best” they saw on Day 1.

Opening Day Report

The opening of ACR2 Convergence was a hit for all who signed up and viewed in. The day included the presidential address by outgoing president Dr. David Karp (UT Southwestern) and a keynote talk and interview with Dr. Seema Yasmin (Stanford).

Outcomes of COVID-19 in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a global challenge. Patients with rheumatic diseases – requiring lifelong immunosuppressants— are at high risk for respiratory and viral infections.

ACR21 Previews from Creaky Joints

CreakyJoints will present 11 posters and two oral presentations at ACR 2021. Data was derived from their large patient database and Arthritis Power Research Registry.  COVID-19 research revealed significantly high levels of anxiety, anger, depression, and social isolation, which we

Negative Concerns of Telemedicine in Rheumatology

Post-pandemic structured surveys and interviews with rheumatology patients suggests they may prefer for face-to-face consultations, as telehealth visits run the risk of diagnostic inaccuracies and safety concerns.

Rituximab Patients May Benefit from Third COVID-19 Vaccine Dose

ACR

New research presented this week at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, shows immunocompromised patients using rituximab (a drug used to treat diseases like rheumatoid arthritis) were able to produce antibodies against COVID-19 (seroconvert) after receiving a t

RheumNow Podcast – Like Father, Like Daughter (10.29.2021)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week and discusses parent-child rheumatologists pairs.

Social

In your RHEUMATOLOGY practice how often are you seeing #LongCovid (new fatigue,brainfog,breathless etc) in your immune dis pts with COVID ( i.e. > 1 month) @CCalabreseDO @jeffsparks @zach_wallace_md @philipcrobinson @JYazdanyMD @alhkim @RheumNow @EBRheum @rheum_cat @AWIRGROUP

Leonard Calabrese @LCalabreseDO ( View Tweet )

1 year 6 months ago
COVID Outcomes in Dermatomyositis A retrospective study of dermatomyositis (DM) patients with COVID-19, shows that DM patients without comorbidities fair well (with regard to mortality and hospitalisation). https://t.co/nlCVHt3XeS https://t.co/Bhc47k7rMD
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
1 year 6 months ago
Head Scratcher? Study of UK Biobank cohort (n=380,380) shows those taking Rx Folate had increased risk of COVID-19 Dx (OR 1.51; 1.42–1.61) and Death (OR 2.64; 2.15–3.24). MTX use (+/- folate) had no increase in COVID or COVID death(1.07;0.57–1.98) https://t.co/MLE1sL7KG2 https://t.co/adoLO9qLON
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
1 year 6 months ago
FDA Approves BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron COVID Booster Vaccines Today the FDA authorized the updated Omicron subvariant (BA.4 and BA.5) COVID-19 booster shots manufactured by Pfizer and Moderna; with an anticipated ship/start date of early September 2022. https://t.co/VzQBFgvAqu https://t.co/r0pQuoDVcn
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
1 year 6 months ago
This precipitous drop and current level is substantially worse than 21 peer countries https://t.co/NAEMjhs4j3 https://t.co/QhrZ1Xnwcr
Eric Topol @EricTopol ( View Tweet )
1 year 6 months ago
Mass Gen Brigham study of Rheum (SARD) pts COVID severity over time (3/20-1/22) shows less severe COVID over time. 1449 SARD pts had COVID-19 (1/3 RA); 28% severe. Early COVID was more severe (46%) vs 15% w/ Omicron. Unvax were more severe (78% v 60%) https://t.co/DTge2od82Q https://t.co/LXeujT6zd5
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
1 year 7 months ago
CDC has updated COVID-19 guidelines - People COVID exposed: no need to quarantine, regardless of Vax status, but use mask x10 d & get tested day 5 - Surveillance testing without Sxs not recommended - if COVID test +, should isolate at home x 5d https://t.co/whVQShsSJR? https://t.co/KnYtJ7BfOO
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
1 year 7 months ago
Evusheld works & reduces COVID-19 by 77%; yet only 25% of available Rx has been used. Its FREE to the ~7000 immunocompromised pts who might benefit from it. Repeat doses (300 mg) every 6 mos! Time to jump on this! https://t.co/IzcAUvKoW8 https://t.co/h5q25yWCHG
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
1 year 7 months ago
In the RECOVERY trial - 8156 hospitalized COVID-19 patients; those on baricitinib had significantly fewer deaths (12% vs 14% PBO) but the size of benefit was somewhat smaller than that suggested by previous trials. (adjusted rate ratio 0·87) https://t.co/EW7xLc9TLC https://t.co/Ahr7bwAQmJ
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow ( View Tweet )
1 year 7 months ago
I had the chance to discuss intrinsic protection from Covid with my friend @ASlavitt https://t.co/dI993XBoXr https://t.co/lidQnzgjJg

Eric Topol @EricTopol ( View Tweet )

1 year 7 months ago