ACR Applauds E/M Coding Changes, Telehealth Expansion in CY 2021 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule

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The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today applauded the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for taking steps to appropriately value cognitive care and expand telehealth access in its CY 2021 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule.

RheumNow Podcast – Why Do We Love Rheumatology Fellows? (8.7.20)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews why we all love our rheumatology fellows and our best advice for them stemming from these articles.

Thromboembolic Risk with Tofacitinib in RA, PsA and UC

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An analysis of the tofacitinib (Xeljanz) drug development program in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ulcerative colitis suggests a low level risk for venous (VTE) and arterial thromboembolism (ATE).  

Long-Term Rituximab in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

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The Annals of Internal Medicine reports that biannual rituximab infusions over 18 months was effective at maintaining remission in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitis (AAV).

Methotrexate Not Associated with Interstitial Lung Disease

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A case-controlled study shows that methotrexate (MTX) use in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD) according to a report in the European Respiratory Journal.

IL-1 Blockade: A Treatment at Last for Osteoarthritis?

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The interleukin (IL)-1β inhibitor canakinumab (Ilaris) showed promise for preventing the need for hip or knee replacement among patients with osteoarthritis in an exploratory analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial, investigators reported. Among patients enrolled in CANTOS, the pooled incidence rate for total hip replacement/total knee replacement was 0.31 events per 100 person-years for those receiving the monoclonal antibody every 3 months for up to 5 years compared with 0.54 per 100 for those given placebo, according to Paul M. Ridker, MD, of Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues.

Wearable Technology to Measure Arthritis Outcomes

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In this lockdown, virtual medicine, post-COVID world, wouldn't it be ideal to have an reliable digital readout on patient activity as a measure of health?

Lovastatin Fails to Lower CRP and Activity in RA

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Ridker and colleagues have shown that statins (3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme-A (HMG Co-A) reductase inhibitors) are effective at treating hyperlipidaemia and lowering C-reactive protein levels; Aranaow and colleagues have shown that lovastatin, when given to rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with elevated CRP levels failed to significantly lower disease activity. 

Fighting Hydroxychloroquine Misinformation

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JAMA Internal Medicine has posted an Editor's note on the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19; noting the sequence of dysfunction since the president promoted its use on March 21, 2020, when he said “What do you have to lose? I’ll say it again: What do you have to lose? Take it.”.

More Rheumatology Fellow Advice from the Mentors

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If you’re looking for some great advice to consider or rebuke, here is the generous guidance of nearly two dozen leaders in rheumatology who sincerely offer you their wisdom and best wishes.

Uric Acid Targeting in Gout Management

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A study from 2 gout clinics implementing different treatment strategies has shown that a treatment strategy that aims to strictly achieve low uric acid (UA) results in a higher a rate of targetd serum UA lowering and less gout flares.

RheumNow Podcast - Top 13 Rheumatology Centers (7-31-20)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and TOP 13 list of Best Rheumatology Hospitals.

Colchicine Benefits COVID-19 Patients

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A proof-of-concept study published in Annals of Rheumatic Disease suggests that colchicine significantly improves COVID-19 outcomes. Efficacy and safety must be determined in controlled clinical trials.he outbreak of COVID-19 posed the issue of urgently identifying treatment strategies. Colchicine was considered for this purpose based on well-recognised anti-inflammatory effects and potential antiviral properties.

Methotrexate Improves Pegloticase Efficacy and Tolerability

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The efficacy of intravenous pegloticase (PEG) therapy in gout can be limited by its toxicity, but when coadministered with weekly methotrexate, higher response rates and less toxicity was observed.

The Burden of Gout

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Danve and Neogi have an editorial in the current Arthritis & Rheumatology about the burden of gout that affects 41 million adults worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD 2017) also published in the same issue. This makes gout twice as prevalent as rheumatoid arthritis (19 million).  This prevalence of this most common inflammatory arthritis is undermined by numerous challenges in the diagnosis and examples of insufficient disease management. The editorial points out the magnitude of the disease and the many challenges facing rheumatologists.