RheumNow Podcast – COVID-19 Responds to Steroids (7.24.20) Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the News and Journal Reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.

1. Cross-sectional survey of 3200 PsA/Pso patients. 65% had both joint & skin involvement. Latter pts had worse QoL, work impairment, higher TJC (5.2) & SJC (4.8) (vs 2.0 & 1.5); more flares (35 vs. 23%, p < 0.001). Jts bigger burden (62%) vs skin (38%) https://bit.ly/3jxJVzE
2. FDA has issued draft guidance on Cannibis research: “Cannabis & Cannabis-Derived Compounds: Quality Considerations for Clinical Research, Draft Guidance for Industry,” outlines FDA’s current thinking on clinical research related cannabis-derived compounds https://t.co/ppvisN1oxU
3. Aurinia Announces U.S. Food and Drug Administration Acceptance of the Filing of New Drug Application and Priority Review for Voclosporin for the Treatment of Lupus Nephritis https://t.co/BMgqvuAUP5
4. Systematic review of 100 pts with statin-associated myopathy showed mean age 65 yrs, presenting w/ symmetric prox. muscle weakness, mean CK=6853 IU/l, all were HMG-CoA reductase Ab+ & >80% had necrotizing myopathy & required immunosuppressants https://t.co/BoNmOHPkGH
5. Literature review suggests that TNF inhibitors are safe to use in NAFLD and may show a beneficial effect on hepatic tissue. BUT… TNFi should be prescribed with caution in patients w/ cirrhosis as the data are conflicting. https://t.co/uynkNNCxdt
6. Retrospective cohort of 147 Adult-Onset Stills Dz pts finds 18 (12.3%) with lung dz (LD) at the diagnosis of AOSD. AOSD-LD were older, w/ more myalgia, LN, pleuritis, ab,dominal pain, more systemic Dz, higher ferritin and more mortality (%39 vs 10%). https://t.co/2phEFwi6n2
7. CORRONA: 477 axSpA pts showed 25% having enthesitis (3.9 sites) at enrollment. Enthesitis pts were more likely to be female w/ nonradiographic axSpA, more likely to be Rx w/ biologic or DMARD; & Overall - had more disease activity (TJC, SJC, ASAS,BASDAI) https://t.co/weQC798mck
8. One-third of hospitalized COVID-19 patients have evidence of pulmonary embolism by CT scan. Retrospective study 1477 hospitalized COVID-19 pts; diagnostic yield of Chest CT for PE was 37%, w/ higher Ddimer in PE pts. https://t.co/jxy7FF5143
9. 45 yr adult male w/ Kawasaki-like multisystem inflammatory syndrome w/ COVID-19 infx: presented w/ 6d fever, sore throat, diarrhea, LN, BLE pain, conjunctivitis, tachycardia, ESR 120, CRP 546 mg/L, high Troponin; Rx and resolved w/ IVIG & TCZ https://t.co/cyRBJccKop
10. Single center retrospective Korean study of 1280 Ankylosing Spondylitis patients (595 exposed to TNFi) showed that TNFi was associated with significantly decreased Xray change rate (mSASSS) (β=−0.112, p=0.004). https://t.co/W4j0Ckt0R2
11. Genotyping and microbiota data TwinsUK study (excluding RA) shows that Prevotella spp were positively assoc with RA risk; further validated by first-degree relatives of RA patients where Prevotella was assoc w/ HLA-DRB1 & preclinical arthritis. https://t.co/7i2NNi7iip
12. Risankizumab Outduels Secukinumab in Psoriasis 
13. RECOVERY Trial: Dexamethasone in COVID-19
14. Steroids and Tocilizumab in Cytokine Storm Syndrome