Bah Humbug Vitamin D (12.20.2024) Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from this past week on RheumNow.com.

1. Nailfold video-capillaroscopy (NVC) study of 76 dermatomyositis (DM) pts - 74% had anomalous NVC patterns (diminished density, abnl morphology). NVC abnl pts had more Raynaud's, and cluster 1 were more likely to develop ILD.https://buff.ly/41EMAjn
2. Rheumatic findings in sarcoidosis are found in 10–40% of pts and include bone lesions, acute arthritis, chronic arthritis, axial disease, dactylitis, and sarcoid myopathy, https://buff.ly/3P2Pg30
3. 95 IBD pts had Magnetic resonance enterography (MRE). While 6/95 (6.3%) developed IBD-arthritis (mean 11 mos), finding Sacroiliitison MRE did not increase this risk. IBD arthritis risk was linked to arthralgia (OR 84) & extraintestinal manifestations (OR 7.4) https://buff.ly/4iJrhTV
4. 41 "Rhupus" pts were compared to 160 SLE and 709 RA pts. Rhupus pts have a younger onset age than RA (P=0.032), but older than SLE (P=0.008). ~20% initially presented w/ SLE Sxs. Rhupus commonly has ILD, hyperglobulinemia & Lab abnormalities (61%), but seldom renal or CNS dz… https://t.co/pqfmFGT0D6
5. U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) has recommended AGAINST use of vitamin D +/- Ca for the primary prevention of fractures (or falls) in postmenopausal women/men > 60 years of age. or older. https://t.co/1bUBqTVaX0
6. Steroids do NOT hamper muscle Bx dx of ANCA vasculitis. Tokyo study of 126 pts w/ suspected vasculitis had Quad muscle Bx; 71 (+) w/ Dx of AAV. Bx yield in 56 and 15 pts w/ off or on steroids, respectively, was similar (59% vs 53%). https://t.co/Xpt01Wksd3
7. Avacopan, a C5aR antagonist, for Rx of ANCA-Assoc GPA & MPA. Main warning for liver AE. In RCTs, abnl LFTs seen in 11.6-13.3% and 4.2% D/C drug for liver probs. Recent Japanese report of 22 AAV pts with AVACO Liver injury seen in 9 pts - Severe, incr total bilirubin in 4, 1 pt died with vanishing bile duct syndrome… https://t.co/LyuIQhwOoQ
8. 1st MTX use in 242 Italian pts w/ chronic inflam arthritis (54% RA, 33% PsA, 16% UA). Overall, survival of MTX at 24 months was 60%, (40% @48 mos, 20% @96 mos). MTX survival in RA & PsA equal, but superior to UA (undiff. arthritis) https://t.co/g4pZpVmTnM
9. Serum IL-40 increased in RA (vs OA, SLE, Controls) and correlates with some clinical characteristics. IL-40 did not correlated w/ Dz activity, but was pos. assoc. w/ RA autoAbs, coagulation-related indicators, and decreased with TNFIi Rx. https://t.co/leBPKbNpf5
10. International Map of Axial SpA study surveyed 5557 axSpA pts (3231 Europe, 770 USA); mean 44 yrs old; 55% females. mean BASDAI was 5.4 (75% had active disease -BASDAI ≥4). Active Dz highest in S. Africa 87%, vs 68% in Asia. Active Dz assoc w/ active functional limitation, spinal stiffness, difficulty finding a job… https://t.co/j8CjuLHHjD
11. Tocilizumab Efficacy in Giant Cell Arteritis Phenotypes
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