Infection

RheumNow Podcast - Rheumatic Patients with COVID (5.29.20)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.

TNR Grand Rounds - Cytokine Storm Syndromes

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This week's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology featured Dr Randy Cron from the University of Alabama - Birmingham as he spoke and took questions on the immunology, immunopathogenesis and treatment of Cytokine Storm Syndrome, especially as they relate to COVID-19 and rheumatic disease patients. The

Boston and Wuhan Report Rheum COVID Patients at Risk for Respiratory Failure

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Two current reports from Boston and Wuhan describe cohorts of COVID-19 (+) rheumatic disease patients who generally do well but appear to have a higher risk of pulmonary involvement.

Low Risk of COVID-19 Pneumonia in Rheumatic Patients

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A current letter in the Annals of Rheumatic Disease details the rheumatic disease patient cohort outcomes from the University of Siena, Italy showing only 2 cases of COVID-19 among 859 patients treated with tsDMARDs and bDMARDs.

Again, Antimalarial Use Fails to Benefit COVID

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Today Lancet reported the results of another retrospective trial showing that hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine, alone or with a macrolide antibioitic, offered no additional benefits to COVID-19 patients, but was associated with higher rates of mortality and arrhythmia.

Analysis of a

Outcomes of Critically-Ill COVID Patients in NYC

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Lancet has reported COVID outcomes from NewYork-Presbyterian hospitals in NYC during March 2020 showing high rates of hospitalization, ICU admission, mechanical ventilation and death. 

A prospective observational cohort study 2 2 NYC hospitals from March 2 to April 1, 2020, looking at

TNR - COVID-Rheumatology Registry & COVID in OZ

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This week's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology features presentations and interviews with Drs. Peter Nash and Philip Robinson. Dr. Robinson presents latest data on the Rheum-Covid.org Registry, that he helped establish under the Global Rheumatology Alliance. Dr. Nash presents the impact of COVID in

High Dose Anakinra Effective in COVID-19

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Anakinra was studied in 29 COVID(+) patients with respiratory distress and high inflammatory markers (CRP or ferritin) and compared to non-anakinra patients, those on anakinra had better survival (90% vs. 56% ;p=0·009) and greater improvements in CRP and pulmonary function (72% vs 50%) compared

The Nine Lives of Hydroxychloroquine (Updated)

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Hydroxychloroquine is one of many medications frequently used in rheumatology practice. Its remarkable versatility is attested by its routine use in lupus, in patients with an autoimmune coagulopathy, in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, as well as in those with a low-level inflammatory

RheumNow Podcast - COVID Kids and Men (5.15.20)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.

CDC on Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome

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The latest hazardous spinoff to the coronavirus infection is an inflammatory, Kawasaki-like syndrome unique to children or adolescents with COVID-19. Sporadic reports from around the globe of this severe pediatric COVID syndrome have littered the news with brief mentions and little detail.

Kids' COVID-Linked Ailment Is Not Your Typical Kawasaki Disease

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As data continue to emerge about a multi-system inflammatory disorder in children apparently connected to COVID-19, evidence is growing that this is not your typical Kawasaki disease.

In New York, up to 102 children have reportedly developed this inflammatory syndrome, and three

Plaquenil Does Not Protect Lupus Patients from COVID-19

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Annals of Rheumatic Disease reports on an analysis of lupus (SLE) patients that shows COVID-19 infection rates were similar between those lupus patients who were taking hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) and those not taking HCQ. 

Data from the COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance

TNR Grand Rounds - What does COVID-19 have to do with Lupus?

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Last night's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology featured Dr. Joan Merrill (OMRF). In her lecture, "What does COVID-19 have to do with lupus?", she discusses the pathogenesis of lupus, and specifically thrombotic microangiopathy, complementopathies, catastrophic lupus syndrome and the potential overlap

Risk of COVID-19 at Choir Practice

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MMWR reports that after attending a 2.5 hr choir practice with one COVID+ symptomatic person, 87% of the choir developed COVID 19; 3 were hospitalized, and two died. 

Choir practice was attended by 61 persons, including a symptomatic index patient, 32 confirmed and 20 probable secondary

RheumNow Podcast – The Beat Goes On (5.8.20)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.

COVID-19 and Thrombotic Complications

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Severe and fatal outcomes with coronavirus infection are often the result of the downstream damage that follows the viral infection. Rising high on the list of complications are the hematologic and vascular complications seen in severely affected patients, so much so that many centers are

TNR Grand Rounds: IL-6 in Health and Disease

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Dr. Len Calabrese from the Cleveland Clinic delivers this week's Tuesday Nite Rheumatology Grand Rounds, entitled "IL-6 in Health and Disease: Where Rheumatology Meets COVID-19".

Dr. Calabrese provides a comprehensive review of IL-6 biology, and discusses IL-6 signaling, IL-6 roles in health,

Hydroxychloroquine's World of Confusion - What you Need to Know

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Hydroxychloroquine has been a dominant news item since the start of the COVID-19 crisis, with a great deal of misconceptions by those who don't know or use or take the drug. HCQ leaped to the headlines on March 19th when President Trump endorsed the drug as being “approved” by FDA. Of course at

Hydroxychloroquine and QTc Prolongation

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JAMA Cardiology reports the risk of QT (QTc) prolongation when hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) was given to hospitalized patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially when given with azithromycin. 

This single center, cohort study included 90 hospitalized patients with

German Society of Rheumatology COVID Pandemic Recommendations

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The Annals of Rheumatic Disease has published the preliminary recommendations of the German Society of Rheumatology for the management of Inflammatory rheumatic diseases patients during the SARS-CoV-2/Covid-19 pandemic.

These preliminary recommendations are based on an expert consensus from 17

Rheum Views on the Upside and Downside of COVID-19

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The world has been turned upside down in the last 6 weeks. Medicine and rheumatology have certainly changed – a frightening experience for Chicken Little, a disaster for the pessimist, a challenge for the pragmatist and an opportunity for the optimists amongst us. Last week I asked our audience

Rare Inflammatory Syndrome in Kids with COVID-19

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Pediatricians are asking the question - could this be a rare manifestation of COVID-19 in children?

There are now 3 case reports in the U.S of children infected with the coronavirus who have developed what looks like Kawasaki's diseaes.  Simimar reports have been seen in the UK, Italy

IL-6 Inhibitors May Benefit COVID-19 Infection

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In the last few days there have been encouraging "preliminary" reports that IL-6 inhibition by either tocilizumab or sarilumab may be efficacious in patients with severe coronavirus infections.