Sarilumab is FDA Approved for PMR

Save

Yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved sarilumab (Kevzara) for the treatment of adults with active, refractory polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), stipulating it is indicated in those patients who have had an inadequate response to corticosteroids or who cannot tolerate corticosteroid taper.

Psoriatic Arthritis: Depressing News on Second- and Later-Line Treatments

Save

Most patients with psoriatic arthritis (PsA) failed to achieve low disease activity after switching from one targeted therapy to another, real-world data from Scandinavian registries indicated.

Treat-to-Target Guidelines for GCA and PMR

Save

The Annals of Rheumatic Disease has published updated multinational, treat-to-target (T2T) recommendations for the treatment of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

Phase 3 Trials of Baricitinib Disappoint in SLE

Save

Despite the encouraging phase II trial results of baricitinib in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, two parallel phase III trials have failed to redemonstrate the efficacy of baricitinib in active SLE, thereby halting development of baricitinib in SLE. 

An Alternative Pain Protocol Following Knee Replacement Surgery

Save

A study led by Vinod Dasa, MD, Professor of Orthopaedics at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, reports that a novel surgical pain management strategy following total knee arthroplasty (TKA), or total knee replacement, provided pain relief without opioids.

The Late Edition (2.24.2023)

Save

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

Periodontal Mucosal Breaks Trigger RA Disease Activity

Save

Periodontal disease (PD) is more common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially those with anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs).  RA activity has been linked to the severity of PD and mucosal inflammation.

Which Meds are Best for Acute Low Back Pain?

Save

Acute low back pain (LBP) is a common cause of disability. An analysis in the Journal of Orthopaedic Research examined which non-opioid drugs are best for treating this condition.

New Drug Formulations – For Patients or Profits?

Save

Wang et al., in a JAMA Network Research Letter, recently reviewed Medicaid expenditures on adalimumab (ADA), sold under the brand name HUMIRA®. They noted that the introduction of the citrate-free formulation cost an extra $4.4B to Medicaid between 2014 and 2021.

Heavy Metals and the Risk of Arthritis

Save

The etiology of arthritis was studied using US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data and suggested that elevated concentrations of trace elements (TE: Pb, Cd, and Cu) were associated with increased risk of arthritis.

Specific ACPAs and Autoantibodies Lead to RA-Associated ILD

Save

A BRASS registry study shows that specific isotypes of anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs) can be associated with incident rheumatoid arthritis-associated ILD (RA-ILD).

Half the Experts are Wrong (2.17.2023)

Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and tries to stump the expert panel this week on the podcast.

Gingival Inflammation Parallels Saliva “Cytokine Score”

Save

Researchers at NYU College of Dentistry have developed a single score to describe the level of cytokines in the saliva, and this score is linked with the severity of clinical gum inflammation, according to a study

New Laboratory Insights for the ANA+ Consult

Save

A new study suggests that use of ELISA assays for CXCL-10 and IFN-α can predict which ANA+ individuals may progress to developing a systemic autoimmune rheumatic disease (SARD).

Drug Safety Differences with New Novel Therapies in RA

Save

Safety outcomes for targeted synthetic or biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/ts DMARDs) used to treat RA were studied using data from the Anti-Rheumatic Therapies in Sweden (ARTIS) registry, showing that these newer agents are largely similar, but still have particular differences for specific infection or other adverse event risks.