News
Selective Use of HLA-B*5801 Testing in Gout
The current edition of JAMA Internal Medicine describes an Asian gout patient who presents with an allopurinol hypersensitivity reaction that could have been diagnosed by testing for HLA-B*5801.
Febuxostat (IR or XR) Effective in Gout with Renal Impairment
Saag and colleagues report the results of a 3 month phase III trial demonstrating equal efficacy between febuxostat extended release (XR) and immediate release (IR) formulations in patients with gout. and normal or impaired renal function.
Big Advances for Two Osteoporosis Drugs
New developments with the FDA and new scientific findings are adding momentum to two drugs experts believe are game-changers in osteoporosis treatment.
Back Pain in Psoriatic Arthritis
A single center study of psoriatic arthritis patients has shown that rheumatologist-judged inflammatory back pain (IBP) and criteria defining IBP may not perform well when ascertaining axial involvement in PsA patients.
Higher Infection Rates for Infliximab in Psoriasis
A prospective study of psoriasis patients from the British Association of Dermatologists Biologic Interventions Register demonstrated that infliximab therapy yielded 2-3 times more serious infection than seen in those treated with non-biologic DMARDs or methotrexate (MTX).The RheumNow Week in Review – Handshakes or Hugs (8.3.18)
Dr. Jack Cush reviews the news and highlights from the past week on RheumNow.com, including new treatments for LTBI, gout consequences, RA and offspring risk, PsA risk, and the opioid epidemic effects.Maternal RA Increases Offspring Risk of Autoimmune Disorders
A Danish population study suggests that fetal exposure to maternal rheumatoid arthritis results in an increased offspring risk of thyroid disease, epilepsy and RA, compared to children born to mothers without RA.Ethnicity Matters in Sjogren's Syndrome
Among the ethnically diverse residents of Manhattan, certain groups had markedly different incidence rates of primary Sjogren's syndrome, a retrospective study found.
Opioid Aversion is Augmenting Spinal Steroid Injections
As physicians turn away from opioids, are they resorting to options that may also be unsafe?
The New York Times reports that some physicians are using the anti-inflammatory drug, Depo-Medrol, for intraspinal injections to manage painful spinal and perispinal disorders.
IL-1 Suppression May Improve Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Interleukin-1 (IL-1) suppression helped reverse symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) for one patient in a case study that may implicate inflammation in the development of the condition.


