Curbside Consults - February 2016
The following is a collection of cases presented to me by rheumatology colleagues. Each has a challenging therapeutic or safety issue. Answers are based on experience with references from literature and guidelines.
News
Challenges of Dermatomyositis Progress
In the current issue of Lancet, Pierre Miossec discusses the challenges of studying and managing juvenile dermatomyositis and, specifically, the
Transdermal NSAID Touted as an Advance
Reuters reports that researchers at the University of Warwick have devised a new transdermal drug delivery patch that may change the future of pain management.
Febuxostat Safe in Gout with Moderate-Severe Renal Impairment
Renal impairment is a risk factor for gout and a barrier to optimal gout management. Many of the drugs used to treat gout require adjustment in those with renal disease.
Pulmonary Hypertension Earlier and More Severe in Men with Scleroderma
Pulmonary hypertension is an uncommon complication of systemic sclerosis (SSc) and historically thought to slowly evolve in those with limited scleroderma over many years.
Only Two-Thirds of US Adults Get Adequate Sleep
Optimal sleep duration for adults is suppose to be 7 or more hours of sleep each night. Shorter sleep duration (7 hours per night) is associated with greater likelihoods of obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, frequent mental distress, and death.
RA Flares Common After Anti-TNF Withdrawal
The risk of a flare increased by more than three-fold over 1 year when patients with longstanding rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in remission, or with stable low disease activity, stopped their anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) treatment, Dutch researchers reported.
CBC Hidden Pearls
CBC…it’s easy as 123! The complete blood count (aka, CBC) is the most routine, but indispensable, of all medical assessments.
ASAS: MRI Definition of Active Sacroiliitis
Increased use of MRI for diagnosis of spondyloarthritis (SpA) in the last two decades has led to earlier diagnoses and gradual incorporation of MRI into the SpA assessment toolset.
Hidradenitis Suppurativa Increases Cardiovascular Event Risk
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting exocrine glands with painful abscesses in intertriginous areas.
Ultrasound Training Escalates in the United States
A recent report cites the frequency of musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound (US) education in US residency and fellowship training programs.
RWCS 2016 – Periodic Fever and Macrophage Activation Syndrome + Pregnancy in IBD
Pregnancy and Immune Modulating Therapies
