RheumNow Podcast – Enough Already with Weaning (6.19.20) Save

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

1. Rheumatology Round-Up from #EULAR2020 w/ Drs. Kavanaugh & Cush. Watch it on RheumNow or listen to the podcast on iTunes or on Android Sound Cloud https://t.co/nb7iXdRMMb
2. African-Americans with Ank Spondylitis have worse disease compared to whites. Study of 10,990 AS patients shows AA to have high frequency of anterior uveitis, hypertension, diabetes, depression, and heart disease and higher ESR and CRP levels. https://t.co/YyLqlM85sD
3. Measures to address Rheumatology Workforce shortages: 1) increase Rheum training programs; 2) expand use/utilization of NP, PA,pharmacists; 3) Telemedicine expansion; and 4) measures to reduce physician burnout   https://t.co/oCE8ZxBpVv
4. #EULAR2020 OP0019 DON'T STOP TNFi in RA remission per ARCTIC-REWIND trial: RCT X 1 year n=99 multicenter gov't funded- DAS28 remission X1 year, dz X10 yrs, 2/3 pts (RF+/CCP+), no doppler signal. Results: 63% flared who had TNFi w/drawn vs. 5% when TNFi continued
5. Study of the French registries for TCZ, RTX, ABA, compared the risk of GI perforations (GIP).  GIP risk was higher with TCZ (vs RTX,ABA) but was largely due to TCZ increasing the risk of diverticulitis.  #EULAR2020  #OP0022 https://bit.ly/2XC5gyX
6. MMWR reports that hospitalizations were 6 times higher and deaths were 12 times higher when the COVID patient presented with comorbidities - the most common being cardiovascular disease (32%), diabetes (30%), and chronic lung disease (18%) https://t.co/JPynBcJYfR https://t.co/kiBEIV38Sg
7. FDA has revoked it's emergency use authorization for hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19. "CQ and HCQ are unlikely to be effective in treating COVID-19 for the authorized uses .... (and)..in light of ongoing serious cardiac adverse events and other serious AE"   https://t.co/TrzJQVzsv7
8. https://rheumnow.com/news/canakinumab-first-fda-approved-therapy-adult-…;
9. Cosentyx FDA Approval for Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis 
10. Upside Down with Tocilizumab in COVID-19