Practice

FDA Approves Taltz for Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis

Save

Today Eli Lilly announced that Taltz (ixekizumab) has received FDA approval for the treatment of adults with active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA). Ixekizumab (an IL-17A inhibitor) would join certolizumab (TNF inhibitor) as the only 2 drugs approved by the FDA for nr-

First Look at COVID-19 Global Rheumatology Alliance Registry

Save

Gianfresco et al have published the first peer-reviewed analysis of COVID-19 infected, rheumatic disease patients entered into the Rheumatology Global Alliance registry; showing that a) rheumatic disease patient can be infected with COVID-19, b) that DMARD and biologic use has no apparent effect

RheumNow Podcast - Rheumatic Patients with COVID (5.29.20)

Save

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

Targeting the Wnt Pathway Fails in OA

Save

The Wnt pathway modulator lorecivivint failed to meet the primary endpoint in a phase IIa study for knee osteoarthritis (OA), but showed promise in certain patient subgroups, researchers reported.

TNR Grand Rounds - Cytokine Storm Syndromes

Save

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

Save

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.

Hydroxychloroquine Improves Survival in Lupus

Save

Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) has dominated the news in recent weeks, because of poor outcomes reported when used in COVID patients. Yet, a recent report reaffirms what rheumatologists have known for years - that HCQ use is associated with better outcomes in systemic lupus erythematosus, including

Low Risk of COVID-19 Pneumonia in Rheumatic Patients

Save

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

Save

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

Save

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

No Certain Link between Biologics and Melanoma Risk

Save

A review of available data fails to show an increased risk of melanoma in IMID (inflammatory bowel disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis) patients treated with systemic biologic therapies.  

There have been sporadic uncontrolled observational reports suggesting a link between

TNR - COVID-Rheumatology Registry & COVID in OZ

Save

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

Systemic Sclerosis Future Therapies and Outcome Measures

Save

Nagaraja, Khanna and colleagues have published an overview of current and future therapies in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and have reviewed the potential outcome measures for this difficult autoimmune disorder. Notably there have been several novel agents studied in recent years,

High Dose Anakinra Effective in COVID-19

Save

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)

Save

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)

Save

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

CDC on Pediatric Multi-System Inflammatory Syndrome

Save

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

Save

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

Save

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?

Save

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

God Bless Nurses

Save

It's Nurses Week and time to reaffirm our reverence for nurses. Dr. Jack Cush gives a video testimonial to the dedication, dependability and excellence Nurses bring to patient care. God Bless our Nurses! 

Risk of COVID-19 at Choir Practice

Save

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

New ACR Guidelines for Gout Management

Save

The ACR has published the 2020 guidelines on the management of gout that includes strong recommendations favoring treat‐to‐target management and starting urate lowering therapy (ULT) for patients with frequent flares, radiographic damage or tophi due to gout.

Secukinumab Better than Adalimumab - Maybe?

Save

The EXCEED study was a head-to-head trial of secukinumab (SEC) versus adalimumab (ADA) as first-line monotherapy in psoriatic arthritis (PsA) patients; this 52 week trial showed that while SEC failed to achieve clinical superiority over ADA, SEC treated patients demonstrated higher