Articles By Jack Cush, MD
A Rheumatology State of Mind
In 2012, a Medscape survey of US physicians revealed rheumatology as the most satisfying of medical specialties. This came as a surprise to many as rheumatologists see themselves as the Rodney Dangerfields of medical specialists.
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Economic Impact of Biosimilars
According to the Federal Trade Commission biosimilars have the potential to save the U.S. healthcare system $250 billion through 2022.
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Hepatotoxicity and TNF Inhibitors
Hepatic enzyme elevations with TNF inhibitor use is not uncommon.
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Blau Syndrome - the Prototypic Autoinflammatory Granulomatous Disorder
The defining triad of Blau's syndrome includes granulomatous polyarthritis, dermatitis and uveitis. This rare, monogenic, autosomal dominant disorder stems from a "gain in function" mutation of the pattern recognition receptor NOD2.
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Rheum by the Numbers: Inflammatory Back Pain
Nearly 20% Americans have chronic back pain, but 5-6% have inflammatory back pain. These numbers were derived from the 2010 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey that showed the USA prevalence of axial spondyloarthritis to be 1-1.4% and ankylosing spondylitis to be 0.5%.
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RA Compliance Undermines Treatment Success
Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston prospectively studied 107 RA patients with regard to oral medication (DMARDs, steroids) adherence. They report that adherence was low, ranging from 58-71% overall.
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Zoster Risk is Similar Among Different MOA Biologics
The risk of new H zoster infection was studied among nearly 30,000 new biologic starts and compared rates seen with abatacept, adalimumab, rituximab, infliximab, etanercept, tocilizumab, certolizumab or golimumab initiation.
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Patient perspectives in the management of psoriasis and PsA
A psoriasis population survey finds psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis in 1.4%-3.3% of North American and European households. Many (27-53%) rated their disease as “severe”.
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