News
RheumNow Podcast – Cancer Risk in Systemic Sclerosis (9.27.19)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
MMWR: Increased Opioid Use in Lupus
Opioids are generally not indicated for pain in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other rheumatic diseases because of limited efficacy and risks for preference and adverse health effects.Low Dose IL-2 Effective in Lupus
A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of low-dose IL-2 in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has shown that low-dose IL-2 induced was clinically effective while expandng regulatory T cells and NK cells, which may benefit immune homeostasis in SLE patients.Arthritis Foundation Releases First CBD Guidance for Adults With Arthritis
As the leading organization for people with arthritis, the Arthritis Foundation has just released the first CBD guidance for adults with arthritis. CBD, or cannabidiol, a plant-based compound, has become popular among people with arthritis seeking to ease chronic joint pain.
ACR Responds to CY2020 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule
Rheumatology leaders commend CMS for proposing E/M code changes and urge agency to make additional changes to final rule.dPersistent Inflammatory Arthritis After Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors
Braaten and colleagues from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine have reported their experience with chronic inflammatory arthritis induced by immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies, showing that in some, inflammatory arthritis persists after the immunotherapy has been discontinued.Parenteral Out-Performs Oral Weekly Methotrexate
A systematic review in PLOS suggests that parenteral MTX therapy is more successful than oral MTX in achieving optimal disease activity control.
Higher Rates of Venous Thromboembolism in Gout
A Canadian administrative claims analysis has shown that gout-associated inflammation increases the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), deep vein thrombosis (DVT), and pulmonary embolism (PE) before and after the diagnosis of gout.
RheumNow Podcast – Believe in Vitamin D or Rituximab? (9.20.19)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com.
NSAID Use Linked With Hypertension in Ankylosing Spondylitis
Continuous use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) among patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) was associated with the development of incident hypertension, a prospective cohort study found.
FEAR: A Perception of Fact In Spite of the Fiction
Pregnancy for patients with lupus has long been considered high risk and associated with both medical and obstetric complications, but outcomes have improved over the last 2 decades and continue to improve.


