Extreme Global Costs of Physical Inactivity

Save

A global, population-based study shows that physical inactivity is not only an important modifiable risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and mental health conditions, it also imparts a considerable health and economic burden that is avoidable.

Best of 2022: Allopurinol Safety in CKD Patients

Save

A study in the Annals of Internal Medicine reports chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients can be safely treated with allopurinol without an increased risk of mortality.

Best of 2022: Emerging Therapeutics for Lupus

Save

Impressive data on novel treatment for SLE were presented at the EULAR22 Congress. A disease that is difficult to study due to its pleomorphic presentation, unpredictable disease course, and high mortality rates, SLE is considered the dragon of all autoimmune diseases. Here are highlights of four exciting abstracts presented at the meeting with emerging therapeutics designed to slay the beast. 

Best of 2022: Methotrexate Side Effects

Save

Data came from the UK Rheumatoid Arthritis Medication Study (RAMS), a prospective cohort of early RA patients starting methotrexate (MTX) shows that in the first year, adverse events (AE) were common, but not serious.

Best of 2022: Was this a Mistake? HCQ Dose Reductions per AAOS Guidelines

Save

In the wake of the 2016 AAOS Guidelines, rheumatologists dutifully reduced the dose HCQ take by patients with SLE to some number south of 5mg/kg per day. Though I believe the ophthalmologists correctly interpreted a 2014 paper in JAMA Ophthalmology that quoted a much-higher rate of HCQ associated retinopathy than had previously been appreciated, they and subsequent guidelines published in the field of rheumatology lacked a critical piece of information: what actually happens when you do this?

Best of 2022: New Updated GRAPPA Psoriatic Arthritis Recommendations

Save

The GRAPPA (Group for Research and Assessment of Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis) treatment recommendations have been updated and the 2021 evidence-based guidance is rich in treatment recommendations based on the key disease "domains" - peripheral arthritis, axial disease, enthesitis, dactylitis, skin and nail psoriasis; with new PsA related domains uveitis and inflammatory bowel disease.

Best of 2022: EULAR 2022 Top 10 Abstracts

Save

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the top abstracts from EULAR 2022  As chosen by me with the aid of the RheumNow EULAR faculty. “Top” is relative and subjective, but my criteria for inclusion are based on impact, water cooler talk potential, innovation and social media buzz.  Speaking of social media…

Best of 2022: Acne with JAK Inhibitors

Save

JAK inhibitors have become enormously popular and while their side effect profile has been delineated and reviewed, little mention is made of acne – an adverse event that may affect up to one-quarter of patients taking JAK inhibitors (JAKi). Dermatologists often refer to this side effect as "JAKne".

New Hope for Hand Osteoarthritis

Save

The drug talarozole – which increases retinoic acid – could be a promising new treatment for hand osteoarthritis.

Best of 2022: Undifferentiated Arthritis Does Not Follow an RA Course

Save

Undifferentiated arthritis (UA) is common in medical practice and many advocate early use of DMARDs; yet a recent study shows that despite DMARD use, UA patients do not fair well with this approach.

Best of 2022: ACR/EULAR 2022 Classification Criteria for Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis

Save

The ACR/EULAR 2022 revised classification criteria for granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) have been updated with performance characteristics and are validated for use in clinical research.

Metformin Reduces Osteoarthritis Risk in NIDDM Patients

Save

Osteoarthritis is a common chronic condition that usually causes joint pain and can be severe enough to require knee and hip replacements.