1.Major political issues currently at stake for rheumatologists (eg CMS cuts for E/M service, step therapy) & need ⬆️ @ACRheum member help cc:@AngusWorthing 2.PEXIVAS: *negative* study on pheresis in severe AAV 3. Aggressive tx in MDA5+DM w/pred+CYC+tacro ⬆️survival #ACR18 https://t.co/TX6muMR3nO

My top 3 takehomes from #ACR18 are: @rheumnow 1. ACR is thinking about leaving ABIM & join ABAI to form a new board certifying body: ABAIR 2.Don’t worry too much about 5mg/kg/d HCQ dose- Dr M Petri still uses 6.5 mg/kg/d 3. No sig ⬆️ risk CV/DVT/PE with tofa and baricitib https://t.co/3YNhYltnfW

#ACR18 @RheumNow abs 837 high dose flu vaccine in RA pts 2-3 times more likely to seroconvert vs standard dose. No increase in RA disease activity. ? translates to less flu?

#ACR18 @RheumNow abs 838 MDA5 pos DM-ILD. Hi dose steroids + tac + IV CycloP had 85%survival at 12m vs 33% in historic controls. Note 31%also had PEx. 90%had CMV reactivation. Impressive nevertheless. #RareDisease

Safety and Immunogenicity is one of nine educational videos available in the "Therapeutic Update: Biosimilars in Rheumatology" video series, sponsored by Sandoz, Inc. and now available on RheumNow. https://t.co/1vmnEJqOSi #biosimilars

IgG4-related disease... almost completely unknown 10 years ago. "It is a perfect disease for rheumatologists to take care of." - Dr. John Stone #ACR18 @RheumNow

IgG4-RD histopathology consistent across organs: lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, obliterative phlebitis, storiform fibrosis. #ACR18 @RheumNow

#IgG4 RD is an indolent disease but can present with severe weight loss (>20 pounds), largely due to pancreatic destruction. #ACR18 @RheumNow

Therapeutic potential of “glycoengineering" in autoimmune disease. Alter glycoforms of endogenous IgG -> reduce pathogenic impact of antibodies. Cell paper by Pagan JD et al https://t.co/UbBsE1jV4L Year in review basic science #ACR18 @RheumNow

TLR8 aberrantly expressed on pDCs (cells that make type-I IFN) in SSc patients Depletion ameliorates disease https://t.co/SmDdpIU2I1 Ah Kioon et al Year in review basic science #ACR18 @RheumNow

Anti-GBM positivity did not predict relapse in Goodpasture's (but ANCA did predict relapse in GBM disease) Abs 826, Cleveland Clinic Roundup - Cush, Kavanaugh #ACR18 @RheumNow