Recommendations – Good & Bad (5.27.2022)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, regulatory updates and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week gout worries, mortality risks, measuring anti-drug antibodies and a better way in lupus?
News
Cardiovascular Risk in Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease
The cardiovascular (CV) risks of inflammation and gout are well known, but until recently hasn't been tied to calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease. A recent EHR study shows that acute CPPD crystal arthritis was significantly associated with elevated risks for non-fatal CV events.
Psoriasis and Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
A large US population based study shows that psoriasis is associated with a higher risk of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).
Increasing Corticosteroid Use in Non-Hospitalized COVID-19
JAMA reports that despite NIH recommendations (that corticosteroids only be used in hospitalized COVID-19 patients), nonhospitalized COVID infected patients were oftent prescribed systemic corticosteroids.
Is Gout Protective Against Dementia?
MedPage Today
People with gout appeared less likely to develop dementia than age- and sex-matched peers, a database study from Korea found.
Long COVID Manifestations
MMWR
The acute consequences of a SARS-CoV-2 infection may be bothersome or devastating, but the long-term consequences may lead to so-called "long COVID" syndrome. Long COVID appears to affect up to 20% of those who survive COVID-19 infection.
To TDM or Not in Rheumatology?
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM), especially for biologic therapies, has become a standard in gastroenterology, but shunned by most rheumatologists.
Can SGLT2 Inhibitors Be Protective in Lupus and Vasculitis?
SGLT2 inhibitors are all the buzz in the renal world with reports of a renal protective and mortality lowering effects. Maybe these agents should be considered and studied in lupus nephritis and ANCA- associated vasculitis.
Amitriptyline and FDA Treatments for Fibromyalgia
Both old and newer pharmacological treatments for fibromyalgia are often promoted; but a recent systematic review and network meta-analysis showed that duloxetine had higher efficacy in pain and depression, while amitriptyline had higher efficacy in treating sleep, fatigue, and quality of life outcomes.
The Inflammation Reflex (5.20.2022)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. This week, neuroimmunology leading to therapy, the cold shoulder approach and Regulatory updates from the FDA.
Biologic Persistence in Psoriatic Arthritis and Psoriasis
Two recent studies examined the durability and persistence of biologic agents in patients with psoriasis (PSO) and psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and while some differences were noted overall persistence was low 3 years later.
Inflammatory Arthritis Spread by ATP and Neural Crosstalk
A novel study from the Journal of Experimental Medicine suggests that a reflex neural signaling at sites of inflammation may lead to spread to other inflammatory sites via and ATP-mediated neural crosstalk.
