Greek study finds 251/1264 #RA pts (20%) had difficult to treat RA (D2T). D2T Predictors were Younger age, fibromyalgia, OA, no change in DAS28-ESR in 1st 6mos b/ts-DMARD Rx. Mental-/pain-/metabolic-Dz contributed to LT worsening https://t.co/QIsu6yIJHO https://t.co/NyKKlyOQi1

Study of 235 newly Dx #RA patients (157 females) found that 11 pts (5%) had carpal tunnel syndrom (CTS) at the time of initial RA diagnosis. Such pts were more likey to be older, female, CCP negative and have a longer Sx duration. https://t.co/Jb3hynyqGx https://t.co/EbTvHGq5Yk

16% of patients with nr-axSpA progressed to r-axSpA within 5 years. Male sex, fulfillment of the imaging arm of the ASAS criteria, and good response to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs were predictors of radiographic progression https://t.co/2qCynSGQjv https://t.co/eogKGacpqH

Dead Words Eulogy This is a bonus lecture provided to RheumNow Live 2024 registrants, and being shared with our RheumNow audience. Today is the last day to register to attend virtually (or in person); go to https://t.co/fc9DGbVDJ5 for more information. https://t.co/d4IbIbAIX8 https://t.co/egNtTNincb

Celebrities/famous folk who've had hip replacement: Steve Carrell Arnold Schwarzenegger, Michael Douglas, Billy Joel, Jane Fonda, Ray Charles, Eddie Van Halen, Bob Hope, Steve Perry, Lionel Richie, Alec Baldwin & soon Paulina Porizkova https://t.co/z3v39gxAZa https://t.co/uqNJuPLUHL

No evidence of harm starting urate lowering Tx (ULT) during #gout attack. Metanalysis 6 RCTs (445 pts) w/ gout attacks given ULT vs PBO or delayed ULT. No differences in pain, time to resolve gout flare or risk of recurrent gout flare in 30d (RR 1.06) https://t.co/Spxoe3CI1q https://t.co/ECya8rvf1S

Microbiome study of 16 SLE pts (44 fecal samples) shows that blooms of Ruminococcus gnavus pathobiont was assoc w/ lupus flares and may be the drivers of clinical of relapsing lupus disease https://t.co/DIir59dkdM https://t.co/0p7Pat4gXS

Biden administration will re-negotiate top 10 Medicare costly drugs - this includes two of interest to rheumatologists 1. Stelara (ustekinumab) - avg Part D Rx cost = $119,951 2. Enbrel (etanercept) - avg Pt D Rx cost = $58,148 https://t.co/HuXmFodZfd https://t.co/BuGl34Zpv5 https://t.co/uniQoEywDB

FDA Safety Warning: denosumab now has a Boxed Warning for risk of severe hypocalcemia in CKD pts taking Prolia (usually seen 2-10 wks post injx). Pts may or may not be symptomatic. CKD pts should have Ca and Creatinine monitored. https://t.co/UMYxjWz9n4 https://t.co/AG5wzBrY1Y

Rheumatologists and the Early Diagnosis of Spondyloarthritis SPACE study of adults referred to rheumatology with less than 2 years of chronic back pain (CBP), shows that only one-third can be reliably diagnosed with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). https://t.co/nUappTl0wG. https://t.co/oouir55CO6

Prevalence of Cardiovascular Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis A prospective study of the BioSTAR registry estimates the prevalence of cardiovascular disease in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) to be 4.6%. https://t.co/NRn0DrYoBX https://t.co/qOoTmBNB1p