Steroids do NOT hamper muscle Bx dx of ANCA vasculitis. Tokyo study of 126 pts w/ suspected vasculitis had Quad muscle Bx; 71 (+) w/ Dx of AAV. Bx yield in 56 and 15 pts w/ off or on steroids, respectively, was similar (59% vs 53%). https://t.co/Xpt01Wksd3 https://t.co/NSBclcEgwq

Metanalysis of 41 studies, & 5343 AAV pts showed 55% (2890) had infection; 36% w/ severe infxn. This included PJP, aspergillosis, candidiasis, HZ, CMV, etc. Pulmonary most common. Risk factors included older, ESRD, DM, smoking, Renal or lung involvement https://t.co/4TtnP5wGc4 https://t.co/RatBXPUk7a

Rheumatoid Arthritis Boosts Risk for Some Types of Heart Failure Rates of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) were doubled in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) relative to other people of the same age and sex, researchers found.… https://t.co/t7GRp7c63x https://t.co/Ov6UwGlPko

Japanese registry study of CV & CA outcomes in #RA. CV (MACE) events = IR 0.49/100 PY. Cancer= IR 0.78/100PY. MACE risk factors: Male, age≥65, HTN, Renal or cerebrovascular Dz; CA risk w/ Male, age, NSAID, COPD, SIE, CA Hx. https://t.co/uBFbho25La https://t.co/3ClEwCvdDY

1st MTX use in 242 Italian pts w/ chronic inflam arthritis (54% RA, 33% PsA, 16% UA). Overall, survival of MTX at 24 months was 60%, (40% @48 mos, 20% @96 mos). MTX survival in RA & PsA equal, but superior to UA (undiff. arthritis) https://t.co/g4pZpVmTnM https://t.co/gcKWriqfhG

Serum IL-40 increased in RA (vs OA, SLE, Controls) and correlates with some clinical characteristics. IL-40 did not correlated w/ Dz activity, but was pos. assoc. w/ RA autoAbs, coagulation-related indicators, and decreased with TNFIi Rx. https://t.co/leBPKbNpf5 https://t.co/fHU8lcS4eW

International Map of Axial SpA study surveyed 5557 axSpA pts (3231 Europe, 770 USA); mean 44 yrs old; 55% females. mean BASDAI was 5.4 (75% had active disease -BASDAI ≥4). Active Dz highest in S. Africa 87%, vs 68% in Asia. Active Dz assoc w/ active functional limitation,… https://t.co/j8CjuLHHjD https://t.co/tV9S3b7YCM

Avacopan, a C5aR antagonist, for Rx of ANCA-Assoc GPA & MPA. Main warning for liver AE. In RCTs, abnl LFTs seen in 11.6-13.3% and 4.2% D/C drug for liver probs. Recent Japanese report of 22 AAV pts with AVACO Liver injury seen in 9 pts - Severe, incr total bilirubin in 4, 1 pt… https://t.co/LyuIQhwOoQ https://t.co/TAmQ9vph4V

Although there is a bidirectional relationship betw pain and sleep, Sleep impairment more strongly predicts pain than pain does sleep. Addressing sleep disturbances is crucial, as it is linked to higher levels of disability, depression, pain-related catastrophizing.… https://t.co/pcFeCWSBCg https://t.co/0QlnbpKEbp

CorEvitas registry study of 1823 psoriatic arthritis pts found that 11.1% fulfilled the fibromyalgia definition and 20.6% fulfilled the widespread pain definition. Factors assoc w/ FM: female, depression, anxiety, impaired function, BMI & #of comorbidities.… https://t.co/nDk8hPTlAu https://t.co/jnO5MijoGJ

Safety of Acetaminophen in the Elderly New research, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, has found that repeated doses of paracetamol in people aged 65 and over, can lead to an increased risk of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and renal complications.… https://t.co/rLchNTh6C8 https://t.co/y2DUx6TQR0

Review of IgA Vasculitis (Henoch–Schönlein Purpura) - the freq of glomerulonephritis is higher in adults than children and tends to present more severely. Rx w/ 1st line steroids, Other agents: Colchicine, dapsone, MTX (Minor dz), CsA, tacrolimus, MMF (steroid sparing)… https://t.co/tB5fll3RfN https://t.co/knc7KesyRj