Increasing Adverse Events Seen with Higher Disease Activity in Early RA
Researchers in the NEO-RACo Study Group studied adverse events (AEs) in relation to disease activity in patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
News
Small Joint Surgeries Drop Among RA Patients
The rate of small - but not large - joint surgery has dropped among patients with rheumatoid arthritis since 1995, a retrospective review of orthopedic surgeries found. By 2015, less than 1% of patients per year underwent small joint surgery, reported Ashima Makol, MD, of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and colleagues in Arthritis Care & Research.
2018 Predictions for Rheumatology
MedPage Today
MedPage Today Editors surveyed a few rheumatologists for their major news predictions in 2018. Read on for predictions regarding drug pricing, biosimilars, autoimmunity and checkpoint inhibitors, and thrombotic events and JAK inhibition.
Calcium and Vitamin D Supplements Do Not Reduce Hip Fractures
Recent JAMA study shows metanalysis of 33 clinical trials and 51,145 participants, showed that calcium, vitamin D, or both affords no decreased risk of hip fractures compared with placebo or no treatment and therefore questions their routine widespread use in the elderly..
The RheumNow Week in Review - 5 January 2018
Dr Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
Stem Cell Transplant Succeeds in Scleroderma
Myeloablative autologous stem cell transplantation was significantly more effective than 12 months of cyclophosphamide among patients with severe scleroderma, an open-label multicenter study found.
Malcolm Gladwell Weighs in on Humanizing Doctors Through Aesthetic Interests
Malcolm Gladwell (along with coauthor David Epstein) is well known for his national bestsellers The Tipping Point, Blink, and Out¬liers; all addressing the psychosociologic side of human behaviors and trends.
Sorting Out the Complexities of Autoimmunity with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Therapy
An editorial and systematic review of complications seen when checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) therapies are given to patients with immune mediated inflammatory disorders (IMIDs) and cancer shows that nearly 75% manifest autoimmune and inflammatory immune-related adverse events (irAEs).
Community Screening for Fracture Risk in Older Women is Effective and Feasible
A UK Study published in Lancet shows that community-based screening programme for fracture risk in older women is feasible, and may reduce hip fractures.
Despite Increasing Metric Use, They Are Not Widespread in Rheumatoid Care
The Journal of Rheumatology has published a nationwide survey of US rheumatologists and shown that despite trends for increasing metric assessments, nearly half of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients are not routinely assessed with a disease activity metric and the evidence they
Bone Marrow Edema May be Found in Normals, Athletes and Military Recruits
Rheumatology has published a study demonstrating that bone marrow edema as measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may be found in healthy people, but that such changes do not change with intense physical activity.
MEASURE 3 Study - Anti-IL17 Benefits Persist in Spine Disease
Patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) have shown rapid and sustained responses to secukinumab (Cosentyx) in a third phase III trial that includes a higher dose of this anti-interleukin-17A monoclonal antibody, researchers reported.
New BSR 2017 Gout Guidelines (Best of 2017)
The British Society for Rheumatology/British Health Professionals in Rheumatology first published a guideline for the management of gout in 2007. They have just updated and published their new guideline, largely because of new therapies, an increasing incidence of gout, low penetrance of urate lowering therapies, and the inability to achieve a target serum uric acid level.
Therapeutic Update: 5 Questions on FDA Hearing for Tofacitinib in PsA (Best of 2017)
In this Therapeutic Update, Drs. Mease, Gibofsky and Cush answer five questions regarding the August 3rd FDA Arthritis Advisory Committee meeting that reviewed the potential approval of tofacitinib (Xeljanz) in patients with active psoriatic arthritis. The panel was nearly unanimous (10-1) in favor of the efficacy and safety profile of of tofacitinib, and similarly voted 10-1 to approve this drug for use in PsA. Final decisions on these recommendations from the AAC panel will be made at a later date by the FDA.
Stroke Risk Highest in the First Year of Lupus (Best of 2017)
Arkema et al has published in Annals of Rheumatic Disease a study showing that ischaemic and haemorrhagic stroke (CVA) is elevated in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) compared with the general population, especially in the first year.