53.2 Million with Diagnosed Arthritis (USA: 2019–2021)
This week the CDC's MMWR reports that during 2019–2021, 21.2% of U.S. adults (53.2 million) reported "diagnosed arthritis".
News
FDA Approves IV Secukinumab
On Oct. 6, 2023, Novartis announced the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved an intravenous (IV) formulation of secukinumab (Cosentyx) for use in treating adults with psoriatic arthritis (PsA), ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA).
Surprising Link Between Weight Gain and RA Activity
MedPage Today
In patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) treated with infliximab (Remicade), increases in body mass index (BMI) scores over time were not associated with increased disease activity or faster radiographic progression.
PMR & Popeye's Spinach (10.6.2023)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the big PMR reports from this week along with other journal reports from RheumNow.com.
Sustained Efficacy of Bimekizumab in Psoriatic Arthritis
BE OPTIMAL trial tested the benefits of a dual IL-17 A/F inhibitor, bimekizumab (BKZ), in patients with active psoriatic arthritis and showed superior efficacy over placebo, that was sustained beyond the primary endpoint, from week 16 to 52.
SAPHYR Trial: Sarilumab Wins in Relapsing Polymyalgia Rheumatica
NEJM reported today that polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) patients who fail to respond to standard doses of prednisone therapy, were significantly better when given the IL-6 inhibitor sarilumab (than placebo).
Predictive FDG-PET in Newly Diagnosed GCA
Annals of Internal Medicine reports that the use of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) PET imaging at the time of a giant cell arteritis (GCA) diagnosis may help estimate the risk for aortic aneurysm formation.
TNR: PMR Diagnosis and Monitoring
Panelists Dr. Claire Owen, Stephen Paget, Anisha Dua and Jack Cush discuss diagnosis and monitoring in PMR during this week's Tuesday Night Rheumatology.
Gout Flare Prophylaxis - Colchicine or NSAIDs?
Flare prophylaxis is the standard when initiating urate-lowering therapy (ULT) in patients with gout. A new study suggests that colchicine, more so than non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) prophylaxis, may increase the odds of adverse events, when initiating allopurinol for gout.
Subclinical vasculitis in polymyalgia rheumatica
Frequent use of vascular ultrasonography and positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET/CT) increase the possibility of encountering a patient with solely symptoms of PMR (no cranial symptoms), but giant cell arteritis (GCA) confirmed with imaging. This group of PMR patients with so-called subclinical large vasculitis represents a clinical challenge.
October is PMR Month
PMR has come a long way from being an occasional referral and often test question, to now being a hot area of drug development and investigation. Led by numerous investigators and educators worldwide, there are new insights into the diagnosis, management and outcomes of PMR patients, with greater clarity on how and where it differs from giant cell arteritis.
RheumNow Podcast – with Special Guest Dr. Kathryn Dao (9.29.2023)
This week on the podcast, Dr. Jack Cush is joined by special guest, Dr. Kathryn Dao to review the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. They discuss unmet needs in gout, obesity and CV disease in PsA and should you check ANCA antibodies in SLE?
Rheumatology Advocates Push for Patient Access to Care
ACR
Physician members of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), care team members of the Association of Rheumatology Professionals (ARP), and patients living with rheumatic diseases convened on Capitol Hill this week for the annual Advocates for Arthritis conference and to support legislative so
Uncertainty on Pre-Clinical RA – Rheumatologist Survey Results
In June 2023, RheumNow surveyed US and non-US rheumatologists (Rheums) about how they consider and manage pre-clinical rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in their practice.
Microvascular CV Disease with Severe Psoriasis
While comorbidities, including an increased cardiovascular (CV) risk, are associated with severe psoriasis, less is known about subclinical CV disease and when it occurs in patients with psoriasis.