Practice

2022 EULAR Recommendations for ANCA-associated Vasculitis

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EULAR has published the 2022 update on recommendations for the management of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV).

AAV recommendations were last published in 2016, and since, research and clinical trials have advanced our understanding of AAV.  A

Polypharmacy Increased in Psoriatic Arthritis

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Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is plagued by obesity, depression and increased comorbidities; now it appears that polypharmacy adds to the burden of managing PsA.

A study of 11,984 PsA patients in the German BARMER health insurance database from 2021 compared medicines and comorbidities

A Pilot Trial of Anifrolumab in Discoid Lupus

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A research report in JAMA Dermatology describes the use of the type 1 interferon receptor inhibitor anifrolumab in patients with chronic discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). 

Cost-Effective Use of Biological and Targeted Synthetic DMARDs

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An international task force of 13 European experts have developed evidence-based points to consider regarding the cost-effective use of biological and targeted synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (b/tsDMARDs) in the treatment of inflammatory rheumatic diseases (including rheumatoid

Optimal Timing of Elective Hip or Knee Arthroplasty

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The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) released a summary of its new guideline titled “The Optimal Timing of Elective Hip or Knee Arthroplasty for Patients with Symptomatic Moderate to Severe Osteoarthritis or Osteonecrosis Who

Carpal Tunnel - Steroid injection vs. Night Splinting

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A prospective, pragmatic, open-label, randomized trial conducted by the UK National Health Service, studied interventions in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and found no advantage to either CTS corticosteroid injection (CSI) or night splinting (NS) as the initial treatment of CTS

Marathon Running Not a Risk Factor for Arthritis

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Intensity of distance running had no bearing on the prevalence of hip and knee osteoarthritis among participants in recent editions of the Chicago Marathon, researchers reported here.

Rather, the risk factors for pain and arthritis were merely those seen in the general population: age

Big Time Vasculitis (3.10.2023)

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Dr. Jack Cush Reviews the News and Journal articles from the past week on RheumNow. This weeks highlights includes insights on scleroderma, myositis, vasculitis and answers the question - does aggressive biologic treatment of psoriasis prevent future psoriatic arthritis?

Long-Term Survival of Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies

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A single center cohort study analyzed the outcome and survival of idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM) patients and showed good 5 and 10 year survival but showed significant declined 15-25 years post-diagnosis.

This was a retrospective single-centre analysis of IIM patients

Geo-epidemiology of Autoantibodies in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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A multinational study of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients shows a variety of post-translationally modified anti-modified protein antibodies (AMPA). While AMPA differed in different ethnic populations, their levels correlated with total serum IgG.

Glucocorticoid (GC)-free resolution of polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) signs and symptoms in patients treated with sarilumab with history of flare: analysis from SAPHYR

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The poster reports post-hoc results from the SAPHYR study on the resolution of PMR signs and symptoms regardless of glucocorticoid (GC) use and GC-free resolution of PMR signs and symptoms over time. GC-free resolution of PMR signs and symptoms was maintained from week 16 to week 52 in majority

Sarilumab in Patients with Relapsing Polymyalgia Rheumatica: A Phase 3, Multicenter, Randomized, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled Trial (SAPHYR)

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The poster describes the results of SAPHYR study that assessed the safety and efficacy of sarilumab in PMR patients who flared on tapering glucocorticoid (GC) dose. The study met its primary endpoint with higher number of patients achieving sustained remission with sarilumab 200 mg Q2W + 14-week

Higher Rehospitalization Rates in Younger SLE Patients

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A Medicare study shows that young adults with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exhibit very high 30-day rehospitalization rates (36%) that are significantly higher than older SLE patients and age matched non-SLE patients.

This study was drawn from a 20% national Medicare sample from

Does Methotrexate Work in Alopecia Universalis?

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Alopecia areata totalis (AT) and universalis (AU) are the most severe and difficult to treat forms of alopecia areata (AA). Yet a randomized controlled trial has shows that the combination of methotrexate (MTX) and low-dose prednisone can yield complete hair regrowth in nearly one-third of

Does Biologic Treatment in Psoriasis Reduce the Risk of Psoriatic Arthritis?

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Retrospective claims analysis shows that psoriasis patients treated with either an IL-12/23 inhibitor or an IL-23 inhibitor had a lower risk of developing incident psoriatic arthritis, compared to TNF inhibitors or IL-17 inhibitors.

There has been considerable debate whether

Long-Term Benefit of Rituximab in Systemic Sclerosis

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A small cohort trial of rituximab (RTX) in 29 systemic sclerosis patients showed significantly improved skin sclerosis and lung function after a follow-up of 96 weeks.

Renal Involvement is Pivotal in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

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Bearing in mind that renal impairment is among the worst complications of ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV), researchers have identified four different trajectories of kidney function over time in AAV patients, with implications for personalized treatment, as well as future research.

NSAIDs in Pregnancy (3.3.2023)

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Dr. Jack Cush reviews the lastest journal articles, news, and FDA announcements from the past week on RheumNow.  This week, the importance of IFNa, Subclinical PsA and NSAID safety during Pregnancy.

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   Study of 87 pts with isolated Nail Psoriasis noted that 11% went on to have

VEGA - The Efficacy of Combination Biologics in Ulcerative Colitis

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A novel trial has shown that combination biologic therapy (guselkumab plus golimumab) to be more effective in ulcerative colitis than either biologic alone.

Sarilumab is FDA Approved for PMR

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Yesterday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved sarilumab (Kevzara) for the treatment of adults with active, refractory polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), stipulating it is indicated in those patients who have had an inadequate response to corticosteroids or who cannot tolerate

Treat-to-Target Guidelines for GCA and PMR

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The Annals of Rheumatic Disease has published updated multinational, treat-to-target (T2T) recommendations for the treatment of giant cell arteritis (GCA) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR).

The task force of 29 members from 10 countries developed five overarching principles

Phase 3 Trials of Baricitinib Disappoint in SLE

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Despite the encouraging phase II trial results of baricitinib in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, two parallel phase III trials have failed to redemonstrate the efficacy of baricitinib in active SLE, thereby halting development of baricitinib in SLE. 

SLE-BRAVE I and SLE-

An Alternative Pain Protocol Following Knee Replacement Surgery

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A study led by Vinod Dasa, MD, Professor of Orthopaedics at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, reports that a novel surgical pain management strategy following total knee arthroplasty (TKA), or total knee replacement, provided pain relief without opioids. The researchers also found

Periodontal Mucosal Breaks Trigger RA Disease Activity

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Periodontal disease (PD) is more common in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), especially those with anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPAs).  RA activity has been linked to the severity of PD and mucosal inflammation.

Researchers from Standfod have suggested a prominent role for PD in