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Steroids

Trends in Early Undifferentiated PolyArthritis presentation. Over 3 eras (1998-2004-245 pts; 2005-10 266 pts; 2011-22 329 pts) many Sxs & Rx same. But Sxs duration 2.9 to 4.1mos, seropositivity 54 to 42%, Erosion score 18 to 9, mostly in Seroneg pts; Steroids incr 18 to 33%… https://t.co/AZfjqB4xGI https://t.co/GEwDWjccxl
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Genentech announced top line results of the REGENCY Phase III study of obinutuzumab (Gazyva) in lupus nephritis. 271 LN (class III or IV; +/- V) taking MMF & steroids were given placebo or OBIN for 76 wks. OBIN was superior @ complete renal resp at 76 wks… https://t.co/Um9du7fgxE https://t.co/RRWumnbTuy
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British Society Guidelines for Managing Behçet’s Disease

An exhaustive, full read guideline from the British Association of Dermatologists (BAD) and the British Society for Rheumatology (BSR) on the management and treatment of Behçet’s disease (BD) in 2024 has been published in Rheumatology.

This guideline provides up-to-date,

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I Can't Treat Ugly (9.20.2024)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news, journal articles and a new FDA approval for EGPA, this week on the Podcast.

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Mycophenolate in New-Onset SLE

How aggressively do you treat newly diagnosed new-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or should you wait for organ involvement? A trial of early use of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), in addition to prednisone and hydroxychloroquine, decreased severe flares and the development of renal

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1,717 Chinese rheumatologists (92% response) surveyed on Steroid use in RA. 60% admit to infrequent use of GC cotherapy. Bridging GC use was supported (35%), opposed (27%), but 38% were inconclusive & 67% said long-term low-dose GC use depends on the pt https://t.co/7qe1aRsZx8 https://t.co/D0RoYxPohY
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Increased Cardiovascular Events in Lupus

A New York surveillance registry (Manhattan Lupus Surveillance Program) estimates higher rates of cardiovascular events (CVE) among systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients, especially amongst younger males, Hispanic/Latinos and non-Hispanic Black patients.

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Systemic Sclerosis Insights (9.13.2024)

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

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Systematic literature review IVIG in systemic sclerosis included 12 studies, 266 pts. A favorable effect was seen for skin thickening, MSK pain, GI Sxs, Steroid use, QOL. But less effect for pulmonary Dz, PFTs (stabilized?). Studies were not of high-quality… https://t.co/c3Xix9K2XK https://t.co/L3LKwegmkf
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Good Clinical Practice Recommendations on Glucocorticoid Withdrawal and Adrenal Insufficiency The European Society of Endocrinology and Endocrine Society have jointly published a clinical guideline on the diagnosis and treatment of glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency,… https://t.co/GmQ5ypvqWP https://t.co/oab9qHpxSa
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Urticarial Vasculitis Overview

Urticarial vasculitis is rare and the causes often go undiagnosed. A Medscape recent overview highlights key features in the diagnosis and management of this rare disorder.

Urticarial vasculitis is often chronic, or recurrent, accompanied by a painful or burning sensation. The wheals or

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Retrospective observational study of 96 stable #SLE pts compared maintenance on HCQ vs belimumab. There were no significant differences in Flare rate (18% HCQ vs 8.3% BLM; p=0.47), damage index increase, SLEDAI, Pred dose or adverse events https://t.co/sVPMugSHn3 https://t.co/6bdel6Kvs9
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Good Clinical Practice Recommendations on Glucocorticoid Withdrawal and Adrenal Insufficiency

Glucocorticoids are widely prescribed as anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive agents. This results in at least 1% of the population using chronic glucocorticoid therapy being at risk for glucocorticoid-induced adrenal insufficiency. This risk is dependent on the dose, duration and potency of

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It takes >3-4 weeks of steroids (@ any dose >5 mg pred/d) to pose risk of adrenal insufficiency – Hence, Endocrine Society Guideline says short-term glucocorticoid therapy of <3-4 wks, irrespective of dose, DOES NOT require GC tapering https://t.co/o7tz1Am9pe https://t.co/CndfCYRApj
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Running with Data (8.30.2024)

Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal reports from the past week on RheumNow.com - including tips on steroids, MAS, and myositis testing.

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MDs: How long must you be on Pred 40 mg/d before you must slowly wean pred (vs stopping abruptly)?

Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

Check out a NEW review on the dichotomy of #glucocorticosteroids treatment in #rheumaticdiseases by @maurizio_cutolo and team 👉https://t.co/6c08ucQlDN 👨‍🎓Glucocorticosteroids - a double-edged sword https://t.co/VdKlPzFpOb
@ReumatologiaJ @ReumatologiaJ( View Tweet )
RISE registry study shows Prednisone Rx before rheum consult ends up with more long-term Pred. 1,733 RA pts; 715 on GC (41% 0.5-2 mos before rheum care). mean GC use =157 d. GC before rheum care associated with longer GC use https://t.co/UpeK4hwIN0 https://t.co/F8cuoX0ACq
Dr. John Cush @RheumNow( View Tweet )

All in the Family (8.23.2024)

Dr. Jack Cush picks highlight reports from the past week on RheumNow.com, with reports on the challenge of lupus nephritis, perplexing skin issues, you don't know JAK (about Tyk) and the value of a good family history.

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Pulse Steroids with Tocilizumab in Giant Cell Arteritis

A pilot study assessed pulse methoprednisolone with weekly subcutaneous tocilizumab (TCZ) in patients with large vessel-GCA (LV-GCA) and showed that a sizeable minority will relapse after the TCZ is discontinued. 

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Metanalysis of 50 RCTs (3,231 pts w/ lupus nephritis (LN) related starting pred dose to rates of complete response (CR), serious infections, & death. PO pred 25 mg/D assoc w/ 20%, 3.2% & 0.2%, respectively. Pred 60 mg/day incr rates to 35%, 12% & 2.7% https://t.co/6FH9BWsmaz https://t.co/0cQPAIuvRw
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CARRA Consensus Treatment for Refractory Juvenile Dermatomyositis

CARRA has developed consensus treatment plans for the use of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in patients with refractory, moderately severe juvenile dermatomyositis. Juvenile dermatomyositis is the most common form of idiopathic, inflammatory myositis in childhood, with

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TRUST: 10 Yr Japanese study of tacrolimus in 1355 SLE nephritis pts; half on TAC x 10yrs. TAC use assoc w/ signif reduction corticosteroid use (~16 mg/d @4wks to 7.2 mg/d @ 1Yr(P < 0.001). 9.7% w/ serious AEs. https://t.co/PsfCVZF4tk https://t.co/l3HkTRc4oC
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Literature review - Glucocorticoid use in elderly to be problematic. GC use may be assoc w/ remission, but GC increases AE rates, & there is difficulty w/ GC discontinuation. Goal: D/C GC early, but some may require for up to yrs to control Dz activity https://t.co/6liN0mubIv https://t.co/PiGKGSYrof
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PEXIVAS: Diffuse Alveolar Hemorrhage in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis Patients

A secondary analysis of the PEXIVAS study showed antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody–associated vasculitis (AAV) patients complicated by diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) may have improved with plasma exchange and glucocorticoids, the results did not achieve significance. 

Diffuse

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