Outcomes

Telemedicine Upside Interview with Dr. Alvin Wells

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In spite of the transformative growth of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic, rheumatologists use of telemedicine is waning, much like the use of masks. Dr. Jack Cush interviews telemedicine guru, Dr. Alvin Wells, on the current state of telemedicine and what the future holds for

Rheumatoid Arthritis, Dementia and Cognitive Dysfunction

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been linked to a higher risk of dementia and cognitive dysfunction, but interestingly this association has diminished in the last few decades with aggressive DMARD and targeted therapies..

This makes sense when you see that dementia in RA is associated

Cytokine Inhibitor Lung Disease in Still's Linked to HLA-DRB1 Alleles

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Pulmonary complications in the setting of Still's disease (juvenile and adult) has seldom but consistently been reported, including reports of pneumonitis, pulmonary hypertension and a severe or fatal lung disease, often associated with hypersensitivity to anticytokine therapy. A multicenter

DORIS - Defining Remission in Lupus

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Proponents of treat to target in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have all agreed that "remission" should be the goal, but defining remission may be tricky in SLE.  A SLE Definitions Of Remission (DORIS)Task Force was convened in 2015 and first published their work in 2016. Now the 2021

RheumNow Podcast - 60/40/20 Interview with Dr. Ed Keystone

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Dr. Jack Cush interviews Professor Edward Keystone, MD (University of Toronto) on the origins and science behind the 60/40/20 benchmark and outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis.

Safety of Psoriatic Biologics in Pregnancy

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Little is known about the safety of newer biologic use during pregnancy, especially in patients who either conceive while on a biologic or must remain on a biologic during pregnancy (often the case with IBD and inflammatory arthritis). A report from ACR 2021 (Abstract 1713) examined the risk

Does Control of Inflammation Lower Cancer Risk?

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Dr. Jonathan Kay's provocative video addresses whether the increased cancer risk associated with tofacitinib (Tofa) seen in the Pfizer Oral Surveillance (1133) study represents a real increased risk, an increased risk relative to a decreased risk with TNF inhibitors (TNFi) or an actual decreased

Improving Rheumatology Practice

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How to best book patient appointments in rheumatology clinic? Should these be scheduled every 3 or 4 months regardless of patient status? Should they be scheduled by patient need or disease activity? 

RAPID3 in Assessing Psoriatic Arthritis

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My research shows that up to 50% of rheumatologists measure something in the course of their daily assessments, and RAPID3 is most popular, being employed by 31% of rheumatologists.

GLORIA Study - Is Prednisone Harmful in Elder RA?

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The GLORIA study (ABST# 1678) was a pragmatic, blinded placebo-controlled randomized trial from Dr. Martin Boers and colleagues where they assessed whether prednisolone (vs. placebo) use would alter clinical outcomes over 2 years.

A total of 451 elder patients with established RA

An Old Friend – Methotrexate in Psoriatic Arthritis

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Methotrexate (MTX) remains one of our most used and reliable tools against a variety of rheumatic diseases, including PsA. When the time comes, as it often does, to escalate from a MTX-monotherapy approach, we have several options. In clinic, initiation of these other medications has often been

More severe COVID-19 outcomes in African American, Hispanic individuals with SLE

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A study from ACR21 convergence discussing data from the Global Rheumatology Alliance (GRA) describes the association between race/ethnicity on COVID-19 outcomes specifically in lupus patients.

RheumNow Podcast - ACR 2021 Rehash (the good stuff..)

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The ACR 2021 meeting has concluded. Dr. Jack Cush recounts a few more great abstracts from this past week’s virtual meeting.

Racial/ethnic disparity in U.S. lupus nephritis mortality

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At #ACR21, the plenary session included an analysis of deaths from SLE throughout the US comparing 1999 to 2019 (Abstract #0454).

Psoriatic Arthritis: "What Matters" to Patients, Physicians

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A study presented today by Mease et al. addresses the vital gap between what patients and physicians consider disabling because of PsA, and emphasizes “what matters” in a daily clinical encounter while dealing with PsA.

Day 4 Report from ACR21

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My favorite three presentations from day 4 (Tuesday) at ACR 2021 included the following.

Predictors of Remission and Low Disease Activity in SLE

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A treat-to-target strategy has been shown to improve clinical outcomes in patients with rheumatic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis including systemic lupus erythematosus.  The goal of treatment in SLE is aimed at remission or low disease activity

ACR21 – Day 3 Report

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Hitting the home stretch, day 3 presentations were big! Here are a few of my favorites: secukinumab efficacy in juvenile PsA; VEXAS - predicting poor outcomes; and the FDA Safety Update session.

Risks associated with mortality in VEXAS

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Vacuoles, E1 enzyme, X-linked, autoinflammatory, somatic syndrome (VEXAS) took the centre stage when it was first introduced at ACR20 last year. It got everyone’s thinking that they might have encountered one or two patients in their rheumatology lifetime who might have this condition. One