The PREVENT trial was a one year, phase III study that showed significant benefits when secukinumab (SEC) was given to patients with active non‐radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr‐axSpA) for 52 weeks.
To be enrolled patients had to have inflammatory low back pain and have either
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The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) today applauded the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for taking steps to appropriately value cognitive care and expand telehealth access in its CY 2021 Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) Proposed Rule.
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Dr. Jack Cush reviews why we all love our rheumatology fellows and our best advice for them stemming from these articles.
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An analysis of the tofacitinib (Xeljanz) drug development program in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) and ulcerative colitis suggests a low level risk for venous (VTE) and arterial thromboembolism (ATE).
In the last 2 years, observational data has
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A case-controlled study shows that methotrexate (MTX) use in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is not associated with interstitial lung disease (ILD) according to a report in the European Respiratory Journal.
Researchers examined the associatioin by comparing 410 RA patients with
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The interleukin (IL)-1β inhibitor canakinumab (Ilaris) showed promise for preventing the need for hip or knee replacement among patients with osteoarthritis in an exploratory analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial, investigators reported.
Among patients enrolled in CANTOS, the pooled
In this lockdown, virtual medicine, post-COVID world, wouldn't it be ideal to have an reliable digital readout on patient activity as a measure of health? A multicenter study from the University of Nebraska Medical Center and the University of Alabama at Birminghams have completed a novel
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JAMA Internal Medicine has posted an Editor's note on the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19; noting the sequence of dysfunction since the president promoted its use on March 21, 2020, when he said “What do you have to lose? I’ll say it again: What do you have to lose? Take it
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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and TOP 13 list of Best Rheumatology Hospitals.
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A proof-of-concept study published in Annals of Rheumatic Disease suggests that colchicine significantly improves COVID-19 outcomes.
Efficacy and safety must be determined in controlled clinical trials.he outbreak of COVID-19 posed the issue of urgently identifying treatment strategies.
The efficacy of intravenous pegloticase (PEG) therapy in gout can be limited by its toxicity, but when coadministered with weekly methotrexate, higher response rates and less toxicity was observed.
In published gout clinical trials, the PEG responder rate was 42%. Strategies to limit
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Danve and Neogi have an editorial in the current Arthritis & Rheumatology about the burden of gout that affects 41 million adults worldwide, according to the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017 (GBD 2017) also published in the same issue.
This makes gout twice as prevalent as rheumatoid
Does repeat bone mineral density (BMD) measurement predict subsequent fracture risk in postmenopausal women? A study published in JAMA suggests that a second BMD done 3 years after the initial DEXA did not further distinguish women who would be at a higher risk for a future hip fracture or
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The SEMIRA trial studied the tapering vs continuing oral glucocorticoids in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients who achieved a low disease activity state (with tocilizumab) were more likely to show safety and better disease control with continuing steroids - even though two-thirds of patients
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A study from a Swedish population shows the real-world risk of gastrointestinal (GI) perforations in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients taking biologics finds that the risk was greatest in RA patients taking tocilizumab (TCZ), compared with RA patient taking tumour necrosis factor inhibitors (
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The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has issued a guidance document for rheumatologists and rheumatology health professionals to consider as practices, business and patient care begins to reopen in this next phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. This document discusses local conditions,
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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the News and Journal Reports from the past week on RheumNow.com.
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In an Annals of Rheumatic Disease report, Italian investigators performed consecutive testing for SARS-CoV-2 (IgM and IgG) between 25 March to 25 May 2020 and compared test results between rheumatic disease (RMD) patients and the general population.
Their study included 295
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According to a small, observational study out of UCLA published as correspondence in the NEJM on July 21, 2020, those with mild COVID-19 symptoms showed an approximate antibody half-life of 73 days.
COVID-19 infection was confirmed by PCR in 30 out of 34 study participants. The remaining four
The number of reporting cases of COVID-19 infection tends to underestimate the true prevalence of infection as only the more severe cases (e.g.,acute respiratory syndrome) get tested or go to the hospital. JAMA Internal Medicine reports that a cross-sectional seroprevalence study from the U.S.
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Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) who were obese were significantly less likely to remain on treatment with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors -- but so were those who were underweight, a large, long-term study determined.
Compared with patients with normal weight, patients in obesity
A recent study from the Netherlands has shown that patients with severe COVID-19-associated cytokine storm syndrome (CSS) with high dose steroids and tocilizumab had a faster recovery, less need for invasive mechanical ventilation and fewer deaths when compared to CSS patients receiving
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The IMMerge trial has demonstrated the superiority of interleukin (IL)‐23 over IL-17A inhibition adults with plaque psoriasis.
This multicenter, phase 3, open‐label study enrolled 327 adult patients with chronic, moderate‐to‐severe plaque psoriasis who were randomised risankizumab (
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Inflammatory events following infection with SARS-CoV-2 can often worsen the morbid or mortal outcomes with COVID, yet it has been unclear if glucocorticoids may modulate inflammation-mediated damage and lung injury. The RECOVERY trial reports that dexamethasone (DEX) use lowered 28-day
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Pain management in knee osteoarthritis (OA) is confounded by studies showing less is equal to usual standards of care. A recent trial showed that meloxicam was superior to placebo or cognitive behavioral therap (CBT); although the differences were small.
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