News
Timing of Shoulder Injections Impacts Surgical Infection Risk
A study of patients undergoing arthroscopic rotator cuff repair shows that corticosteroid injections in the month prior to surgery are associated with a significantly increased risk of surgical site infection.
Polypharmacy Blunts Responses and Ups the Safety Risks
A study from the British Society for Rheumatology Biologics Register (BSRBR-RA) demonstrates that polypharmacy is a predictor of lower treatment responses and more serious adverse events (SAEs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
EULAR 2019 Update to Lupus Management
The goal of SLE treatment is remission or low disease activity and flare prevention. Hydroxychloroquine is recommended in all patients with lupus, at a dose not exceeding 5 mg/kg real body weight. Glucocorticoids (GC) should be minimised to less than 7.5 mg/day (prednisone equivalent). Appropriate initiation of immunomodulatory agents (methotrexate, azathioprine, mycophenolate) can be tailored to the clinical scenarios and may allow for tapering or discontinuation of GC.
Mortality Risk Factors in Systemic Sclerosis
A French cohort study of 625 systemic sclerosis (SStc) patients has found a significantly increased mortality risk that can be predicted by common clinical variables.
Intraarticular Trans-Capsaicin Effective in Knee OA
A novel study has shown that intraarticular therapy with high‐purity synthetic trans‐capsaicin (CNTX‐4975) for chronic knee osteoarthritis (KOA) was associated with significant relief of knee pain.
Smoking Not Protective Against Knee OA
Researchers found no protective effect of smoking against knee osteoarthritis (OA), according to a new longitudinal cohort study of 620 individuals with meniscal tears treated at five sites in Denmark.
Better Tests Ahead in Lupus
The advent of "big data" and "-omics" technologies offers hope that clinicians will soon have better diagnostics for systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatologists here were told.
Dr. Harold E. Paulus (1929-2019)
Dr. Harold “Hal” Paulus lives in the annals of Rheumatology as a major contributor, mentor, researcher and clinical trialist. He passed away last week, one day after his 89th birthday. I met Dr. Paulus as a fellow in 1985, when he easily included me in his discussions and research on rheumatoid arthritis. I admired his easy demeanor, wry humor and every man character. Most remark on his calm recessive and kind personality that was complemented by a body of work that was large, impactful and usually at the cutting edge. Many of Dr. Paulus’ colleagues and friends have contributed their testimonies and fond memories of this great man.
Update on Vaccines in Autoimmune Patients
Although both the disease and the treatment for it in rheumatology patients may work at cross-purposes with immunizations, only a very few vaccines are absolutely contraindicated in this population, an infectious disease specialist told rheumatologists here.
RheumNow Podcast – A Tofa Two-fer (4.12.19)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and journal articles from the past week on RheumNow.com
GCA Relapse Risk High with Steroids
Prior to the introduction of tocilizumab to manage giant cell arteritis (GCA), glucocorticoids (GC) have been the mainstay of therapy, but has been limited by relapses in disease.
