News

A new study shows adherence to current ACR guidelines for therapy results in improved disease activity scores.

In new data presented at CCR West, investigators link smoking and ethnicity with organ damage of SLE patients.

The quality of doctor-patient communications varies, says Susmita Pati, M.D. “In general, many people feel that many physicians don't communicate very well. On the other hand, there are plenty of folks who feel they have done really great.”

The price of a medication can be a significant factor in poor adherence to treatment, and few other specialties have higher medication prices than rheumatology. How can rheumatologists help their patients navigate the system so that they can get the best medication at the best price?

The cost of treating osteoporosis in the United states has risen 118 percent over the last 19 years, shows an analysis presented this week at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research annual meeting in Orlando.

New findings show, despite women making up a greater rate of internal medicine residents, subspecialty fellowships are at a greater disparity now than in 1991.

The bisphosphonate alendronate (Binosto and Fosamax) can effectively maintain the gains in bone mineral density achieved with a year-long course of denosumab treatment in 91 percent of 126 patients who participated in a randomized clinical trial presented this week at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research annual meeting in Orlando.

Patients with atrial fibrillation are commonly prescribed oral anticoagulants for stroke prevention, but in older patients at risk for osteoporosis, treatment with blood thinners may heighten osteoporosis risk, according to a study presented this week at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research annual meeting in Orlando.

The cost of treating osteoporosis in the United states has risen 118 percent over the last 19 years, shows an analysis presented this week at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research annual meeting in Orlando.

Biologics that target the immune system give doctors an opportunity to treat diseases like psoriasis and atopic dermatitis.

Taking calcium supplements doesn't appear to worsen cardiovascular health in healthy postmenopausal women, according to a study presented at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research annual meeting that took place over the weekend.

Roche announced this week that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted breakthrough therapy designation of obinutuzumab (Gazyva) for lupus nephritis, a major morbidity of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

The human monoclonal antibody was previously approved for the treatment of adults with plaque psoriasis in July 2017.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved nintedanib (Ofev, Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals) capsules to slow the rate of decline in pulmonary function in adults with systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD), which is a progressive lung disease that can be debilitating and life-threatening.

Levels of the biomarker urine C-telopeptide of cross-linked collagen type II (uCTX-II) are independently associated with radiographic severity and pain intensity in knee osteoarthritis, say researchers writing in Arthritis Research & Therapy this month.

Men with diabetes may have a higher risk of experiencing chronic lower back pain, say researchers writing in BMJ Open this month.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use contributes substantially to the increased risk of cardiovascular disease among patients with osteoarthritis, say researchers writing in Arthritis & Rheumatology last month.

Rheumatoid arthritis patients who achieve low disease activity on tofacitinib in combination with methotrexate, should be able to discontinue methotrexate safely and without significant worsening of disease activity, especially if they are having trouble tolerating it, new research shows.

When considering the evidence, it appears that rather than it being a discrete clinical entity with a unique cause, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is likely a syndrome that represents a common endpoint for a number of different causative agents.

Janssen is seeking FDA approval of guselkumab (Tremfya) for adults with active psoriatic arthritis. If approved, it would become the second IL-23 inhibitor in the U.S. market. 

A proof of concept clinical trial for riociguat (Adempas, Bayer) for patients with systemic sclerosis indicates that longer treatment periods may be necessary to heal digital ulcers. In this trial, the treatment wasn't effective in reducing the number of digital ulcers.

In patients with rheumatoid arthritis, methotrexate adherence is suboptimal and associated with certain demographics, medication experience, and beliefs about medicines, say researchers writing in ACR Open Rheumatology this month.

Low-dose interleukin-2 (IL-2) was found to be safe and well tolerated in a phase 1 and 2a trial of 12 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The treatment may be beneficial in reducing disease activity, researchers report in Sept. 1 issue of The Lancet Rheumatology.

A new study published in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology finds there may be a genetic explanation for the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) in African American women.

Psoriatic arthritis can manifest in a variety of ways from nail disease to peripheral joint pain. But, there are a few hallmark signs that can point a rheumatologist or rheumatology nurse in the right direction. In a presentation given at the Rheumatology Nurses Society annual meeting in August, Linda Grinnell-Merrick, NP, an allergy, immunology, and rheumatology nurse practitioner at the University of Rochester Medical Center, discussed the treatment of psoriatic arthritis.

A 33-year-old man visits his doctor complaining of a thick scaly plaque on his toes and toenails and low back pain. What's your diagnosis?

Better communication between pediatric and adult rheumatologists is especially important as pediatric patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis transition to adult care.  In this Q&A, we revisit a Rheumatology Nurses Society annual meeting presentation made last month by Cathy Patty-Resk, MSN, RN, CPNP, a pediatric rheumatology nurse practitioner with the Children’s Hospital of Michigan.

Review shows inconsistencies in infliximab concentrations for patients with spondyloarthritis. More research is needed to determin optimal dosages to achieve a clinical response in spondyloarthritis.

Affordability is a leading cause of drug abandonment among rheumatology patients. Back in April, the American College of Rheumatology issued a series of position statements designed to control drug costs while improving patient outcomes.

Better treatment outcomes have been documented in studies when physicians and pharmacists work together. But it can be challenging, especially with changes in policies and procedures. In this article, Lisa Schwartz, PharmD., outlines the pros of teaming up.