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Best of 2024: Upside/Downside of Steroids in Lupus Nephritis

A systematic review of randomized clinical trials of patients with biopsy-proven lupus nephritis demonstrates both the benefits and harms to early glucocorticoid regimens on lupus outcomes.

Best of 2024: Eating for Rheumatoid Arthritis

The majority of practicing rheumatologists at RheumNow Live 2024 were unaware of the new ACR guidelines issued in 2022 regarding dietary and lifestyle recommendations for patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Dr. Monica Guma reviewed these guidelines during her lecture on the impact of diet on disease activity and therapeutic response.  

Best of 2024: Mixed Long-term Effects of Calcium and Vitamin D in Postmenopausal Women

A follow-up analysis of a randomized clinical trial found that the use of calcium and vitamin D supplements among postmenopausal women was associated with decreased risk for cancer mortality, but increased risk for cardiovascular disease mortality. The analysis is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Best of 2024: SGLT2 Inhibitor Protective Effects in Lupus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) outcomes were assessed based on whether they received sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i), in the setting of comorbid type 2 diabetes (T2D).

Best of 2024: Good Clinical Practice Recommendations on Glucocorticoid Withdrawal and Adrenal Insufficiency

Glucocorticoids are widely prescribed as anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents. This results in at least 1% of the population using chronic glucocorticoid therapy being at risk for glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency. This risk is dependent on the dose, duration and potency of the glucocorticoid, route of administration, and individual susceptibility.

Best of 2024: Efficacy of Biologics in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

A retrospective cohort study of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) persistence in rheumatoid arthritis patients with chronic kidney disease, shows the 3 year survival to be under 50% but that all studied biologics were nearly equivalents with regard to safety and efficacy.

Best of 2024: 13 Risk Factors for RA-associated Interstitial Lung Disease

Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the most widespread and fatal pulmonary complication of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A recent metanalysis shows the pooled prevalence of RA-ILD was approximately 18.7%.

Best of 2024: ASLeap: Higher Dose Secukinumab in Ankylosing Spondylitis

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients not responding to usual dosing with secukinumab (150 mg) after 16 weeks were dose escalated to secukinumab (SEC) 300 mg, but failed to show improvement by week 52.

Best of 2024: Consensus Statements on Vitamin D

The “Controversies in Vitamin D” International Conference has published their proceedings on vitamin D metabolism, assessment, actions, and supplementation. Interestingly, optimal levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) are still being debated.

Best of 2024: Inadequate Zoster Vaccination in Immunocompromised Patients

A VA study of shows that recombinant zoster vaccine (RZV) vaccination in immunocompromised patients or those receiving immunosuppressive medications is insufficient, given these are high risk individuals.

Best of 2024: Pain Reduction with Methotrexate in Knee Osteoarthritis

The Annals of Internal Medicine reports that oral, low dose, weekly methotrexate significantly reduced knee osteoarthritis pain, stiffness, and function in a randomized controlled trial.

Best of 2024: Lung Cancer in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Interstitial Lung Disease

A matched cohort study from the Veterans Health Administration shows that rheumatoid arthritis patients have a >50% increased risk of lung cancer, and a 3-fold higher risk of lung cancer in RA-interstitial lung disease (ILD).
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