DSB: Drug Shortages July 2015
Several drugs continue to be in short supply, posing significant problems for patients. Foremost on this list is leflunomide (Arava) which is backordered for both 10 mg and 20 mg tablets.
Leflunomide Shortage
Rituximab Induced Serum Sickness
Karmacharya and colleages have reviewed 33 cases of rituximab-induced serum sickness. Half of these patients had the classic triad of SS fever, rash, and arthralgia and a self-limiting course. The time to onset after infusion was greater with the first dose of rituximab c
IL-1 Inhibition May Be an Alternative Treatment for Behcet's
Behcet's disease is difficult to manage, especially if the goal is to avoid corticosteroids.
Post-Translationally Modified Proteins as Potential New Early Arthritis Activity Markers
Defects in protein citrullination and its consequences in patients with RA have been studied widely in the recent decade. It appears that autoantibodies, including those against citrullinated proteins, are of diagnostic and prognostic relevance.
Inflammatory Ocular Disease in US Veterans
A retrospective review of 1285 US male veterans showed the prevalence of inflammatory eye disease to be 2%. Uveitis was most common (most being anterior uveitis), followed by keratitis, scleritis, episcleritis, and acute ischemic optic neuropathy.
The EULAR 2015 Report – Friday and Saturday
These abstracts and presentations were presented last week on the 12th and 13th of June at the EULAR 2015 annual meeting in Rome.
The EULAR 2015 Report- Friday
These abstracts and presentations were presented 12 June at the EULAR 2015 annual meeting.
The EULAR 2015 Report - Wednesday
EULAR 2015 started the afternoon of Wednesday June 10th.
The Best Kind of Arthritis
I was recently asked, “what is the best kind of arthritis to have?”
Inflammatory Fibromyalgia - Is it Possible?
Fibromyalgia is a noninflammatory disorder. However, there are patients with prolonged morning stiffness, subjective joint swelling and many with modest-to-moderate elevations of acute-phase reactants.
The Nine Lives of Hydroxychloroquine
Hydroxychloroquine is one of many medications frequently used in rheumatology practice.
Drug-Induced Lupus is Rare with TNF inhibitor Therapy
Drug-induced lupus (DIL) has been associated with all TNF inhibitors. Early rates suggested this may be between 0.04 - 0.06 events per 100 patient-years or roughtly 5 per 1000 patient-years.
