Articles By Richard Conway, MBBChBAO, PhD
ICYMI: Vasculitis Pearls
Once again RheumNow Live 2024 really delivered with high impact learning packed into short sessions. As someone with an interest in vasculitis it was fantastic to see four of my favorite speakers in the Vasculitis Mavens and STEP talks. They gave us what we really want from these talks – personal opinions and approaches that go beyond the guidelines. They really dropped a selection of pearls on us and I wanted to share a few of these with you.
Read ArticleICYMI: Co-management of Psoriatic Disease
It is a common clinical scenario to see someone with both severe psoriatic arthritis and skin psoriasis. In an ideal world this would involve a combined clinic with our local friendly dermatologist. For many of us, however, this is not practical for many reasons. The excellent Saturday morning session on choosing systemic therapies in psoriatic disease at RheumNow Live 2024 from dermatologist extraordinaire Dr. April Armstrong was therefore hugely insightful.
Read ArticleVasculitis Pearls
Once again RheumNow Live 2024 really delivered with high impact learning packed into short sessions. As someone with an interest in vasculitis it was fantastic to see four of my favorite speakers in the Vasculitis Mavens and STEP talks.
Read ArticleCo-management of Psoriatic Disease
It is a common clinical scenario to see someone with both severe psoriatic arthritis and skin psoriasis. In an ideal world this would involve a combined clinic with our local friendly dermatologist. For many of us, however, this is not practical for many reasons. The excellent Saturday morning session on choosing systemic therapies in psoriatic disease at RheumNow Live 2024 from dermatologist extraordinaire Dr. April Armstrong was therefore hugely insightful.
Read ArticleBest of 2023: New ACR RA-ILD Treatment Guidelines – What Were They Smoking!?
Rheumatoid arthritis related interstitial lung disease (RA-ILD) is common, with symptomatic RA-ILD affecting approximately 8% of RA patients. There is a very limited evidence base supporting treatment and therefore the recent release of ACR guidelines is to be welcomed. However, the published guidelines appear discordant with the best available evidence base.
Read ArticleICYMI: Cancer and TNF inhibitors
Cancer risk minimisation is a high priority for people with rheumatic diseases, as it is for the general population. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) have a long history of association with cancer risk discussions. An oral presentation by Suarez-Almazor et al provided more supportive data on using TNFi in this population.
Read ArticleICYMI: The Fallacy of Biologic Treatment to Prevent Rheumatoid Arthritis
The window of opportunity concept in RA shifted our focus to trying to treat disease earlier and more aggressively to improve long term outcomes. A natural development of this was to reconsider the possibility of therapeutic interventions aimed at the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis.
Read ArticleTNFi and RA-ILD – The Pendulum Swings Again
TNF inhibitors revolutionised the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. While highly effective for the joint manifestations of the disease, a note of caution was sounded regarding the potential for worsening of ILD with these agents. Within this framework, a study by England et al presented at ACR23 was highly relevant.
Read ArticleCancer and TNF inhibitors
Cancer risk minimisation is a high priority for people with rheumatic diseases, as it is for the general population. Tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi) have a long history of association with cancer risk discussions. An oral presentation by Suarez-Almazor et al provided more supportive data on using TNFi in this population.
Read ArticleThe Fallacy of Biologic Treatment to Prevent Rheumatoid Arthritis
The window of opportunity concept in RA shifted our focus to trying to treat disease earlier and more aggressively to improve long term outcomes. A natural development of this was to reconsider the possibility of therapeutic interventions aimed at the prevention of rheumatoid arthritis.
Read Article