Higher Lupus Mortality Among Minority Populations

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The February 19th MMWR reports that higher mortality rates in certain patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE); data based on recent San Francisco County statistics showing a four fold higher mortality among Asian and Hispanic/Latina females with SLE.

ANAGO Study - Anakinra for Gout Flare

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The interleukin (IL)-1 receptor antagonist anakinra (Kineret) was not superior to triamcinolone for relieving gout flares, but had similar effects for pain reduction as the glucocorticoid, a randomized phase II study found.

Diagnosis & Treatment of Osteoarthritis Reviewed

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Katz, Arant and Loeser have published a comprehensive open-read overview of osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip and knee in JAMA; underscoring the impact, advances, disappointments and guidelines put forth. 

Lung Preservation with Tocilizumab in Early Systemic Sclerosis

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Arthritis & Rheumatology has published the results of a subanalysis from tocilizumab (TCZ) clinical trials showing that Il-6 inhibition was associated with preservation of lung function patients with early systemic sclerosis (SSc).

RheumNow Podcast – Systemic Sclerosis Pearls (2.19.2021)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews nearly a dozen news and journal reports from the past 2 weeks on RheumNow.com, including the ACR's new COVID-19 vaccine guidance for patients with rheumatic disease.

High Risk Cancer Profiling with Inflammatory Myositis

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A recent metanalysis of studies suggest you may be able to use certain clinical factors to stratify cancer risk in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs).

Avacopan - Is it Really a Win for ANCA-Associated Vasculitis?

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The NEJM has reported the results of a study showing that avacopan, a C5a receptor inhibitor, is as effective as steroids at treating patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)–associated vasculitis (AAV).

Alveolar Hemorrhage and Mortality in Lupus

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Metanalysis of patients with diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH), show this to be a rare and life-threatening complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), that is more apt to affect older, severe lupus patients with active infection.

Checkpoint Inhibitor Use with Pre-existing Autoimmune Disease

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Annals of Internal Medicine reports treating advanced melanoma with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in patients with pre-existing autoimmune disease (AID) was as effective and safe in those with AID compared to those without AID, although severe colitis occurred more frequently among pati

RWCS Highlights - Day 4

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As another year at RWCS in Maui wrapped up, I’m so thankful I had the opportunity to participate remotely. Here are my day 4 #RWCS2021 pearls from the Novel Therapies Year in Review (RA, SLE, OA); novel concepts in pediatric rheumatology; and post-COVID telerheumatology sessions.

ACR and Three Societies Agree on HCQ Eye Safety

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Four major medical societies issued a joint statement of principles on safe use of hydroxychloroquine from the perspective of ocular toxicity.

MIRROR Study: Pegloticase With Methotrexate in Uncontrolled Gout

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Botson et al has reported that the combination of methotrexate (MTX) and IV pegloticase is safe and effective in patients with uncontrolled gout. This exploratory, open-label clinical trial screened 17 patients and treated 14 patients (all men, 49.3 ± 8.7 years) with IV pegloticase with MTX (15 mg/week) and folic acid (1 mg/day) 4 weeks prior to and throughout pegloticase treatment.