Defining Refractory Rheumatoid Arthritis
Dr. Maya Buch from Leeds has a thoughtful Viewpoint article in Annals of Rheumatic Disease on how to consider and manage the refractory or difficult rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patient.
News
Favorable Certolizumab Safety Profile in Pregnancy
Clowse and colleagues have published an extensive review of the certolizumab pegol (CZP) in pregnancy database, and found no evidence that CZP has a teratogenic effect or contributes to fetal harm when compared to the general population.
Uveitis in JIA: Screen All, Treat Early
A European group of experts has formulated consensus-based recommendations for the treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA)-associated uveitis, focusing on screening, monitoring, and treatment of this potentially devastating extra-articular manifestation of JIA.
RheumNow Week in Review -The Temporal Artery Biopsy Letdown (4.6.2018)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. News on the cost of RA care, infections on planes, CV events and Sacroiliitis in IBD, NXP-2 antibodies and calcinosis and rituximab in myositis ILD patients.
IL-6 Inhibition Most Effective in Polycyclic Systemic JIA
The German Autoinflammatory Disease (AID) registry has studied the effects of the IL-6 inhibitor tocilizumab (TCZ) in systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (sJIA) patients and shown a clinical response rate of 35% during the first 12 weeks, and inactive disease and/or remission (with medication)
Rituximab May Halt ILD in Antisynthetase Syndrome Myositis
A multicenter study assessed patients with the antisynthetase syndrome (AS) and interstitial lung disease (ILD) and found that rituximab (RTX) therapy was associated with either improved or stable pulmonary outcomes in most.
Lancet Tackles the Global Challenge of Low Back Pain
Lancet has several reports on low back pain (LBP) as a major problem worldwide, largely because of the aging population.
Low back pain is the leading cause of disability worldwide.
Cannabis Laws Lessen the Opioid Crisis
Three reports from JAMA Internal Medicine demonstrate favorable trends with less opioid use when cannabis became legal.
Unmet Needs in Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease
Abhishek et al have written on the results of an international survey of crystal arthritis experts and identified the unmet needs regarding calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition (CPPD) - research, classification, diagnosis and management.
Obesity Surgery Tames Knee OA Pain
Laparoscopic gastric band (LAGB) surgery was associated with significant decreases in knee pain from osteoarthritis (OA), with the greatest improvements seen among those whose body mass index (BMI) had the greatest decreases and among younger patients, researchers reported.
The RheumNow Week in Review -30 March 2018
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com. News on drug regulatory decisions, fenofibrate and gout, Still's disease, TB and infection rates, SpA and hidradenitis suppurativa, and predicting methotrexate non-responders.
NHANES: Trends in Calcium Supplements
The journal Bone reports that given excess calcium intake may not be entirely free from unintended health consequences, it's important to undestand trends in calcium supplement use.
