News

Individualized Approach Needed for Bisphosphonate Use in Women

In women 50 years of age or older, the risk of atypical femur fracture increased with longer bisphosphonate use, Asian ancestry, shorter height, higher weight and glucocorticoid use for one year or more, but this risk rapidly decreased after bisphosphonate discontinuation, according to a study recently published in New England Journal of Medicine.

Intramuscular Pressure Linked to Pain in Fibromyalgia

Patients with fibromyalgia syndrome may present with elevated intramuscular pressure, which might represent a diagnostic aid in fibromyalgia syndrome and a target for treatment to reduce muscle pressure, according to a study recently published in The Journal of Rheumatology.

COX-2 Inhibitors Best Traditional NSAIDS for Acute Gout

In patients with acute gout, cyclo-oxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitors, especially etoricoxib (Arcoxia, Merck & Co.), may result in a greater clinical response than traditional non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), according to a study published in BMJ Open.

Genomic Risk Scores May Enhance JIA Diagnosis

In juvenile idiopathic arthritis, predictive genomic risk scores may enhance current diagnosis protocols, prioritizing higher-risk patients for follow-up and reducing treatment delays, according to a study published this month in Annals of Rheumatic Diseases.

Dapagliflozin Earns Breakthrough Therapy Designation for Chronic Kidney Disease

Dapagliflozin (Farxiga, AstraZeneca) has been granted breakthrough therapy designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for patients with chronic kidney disease with and without type 2 diabetes. It is currently approved as a treatment to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes.

Secukinumab Not Associated With Tuberculosis

Researchers writing in JAMA Dermatology report that latent tuberculosis infection previously assumed to be an adverse event as a result of treatment with secukinumab, is actually uncommon in patients with chronic systemic inflammatory conditions.

Strength Training May Not Be Necessary Before TKA

Preoperative knee extensor muscle strength training in patients with knee osteoarthritis may have no clinical effect on total knee arthroplasty (TKA), according to a systematic review published online this month in Osteoarthritis and Cartilage.

Tofacitinib Approved for Juvenile Arthritis

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved tofacitinib Xeljanz, Pfizer) for the treatment of children and adolescents two years and older with active polyarticular course juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pcJIA).

Research Update:  Cytokine Storm Syndrome

Various drug therapies, including several cytokine blockers, are showing promise in addressing COVID-19 related cytokine storm syndrome, says Dr. Randall Cron of Children’s Hospital of Alabama.

rheumatology heart disease

Some drugs used to treat lupus and other connective tissue diseases have been shown to increase cardiovascular risks. Even so, those drugs remain effective in addressing disease symptoms, and a leading rheumatology researcher has suggested that concerns may not be fully warranted.

The future of psoriatic arthritis treatment.

New algorithms and more combination therapeutics are part of the future of psoriatic arthritis care. That’s according to Arthur Kavanaugh, M.D., a rheumatologist with UC San Diego Health who recently presented at the Congress of Clinical Rheumatology East annual meeting held this month.​

mental distress lupus rheumatic disease

Cognitive impairment can be an ongoing issue for patients with rheumatic disease, such as lupus. A proper diagnosis includes a battery of tests, says Noa Shwartz, M.D., a physician-researcher with Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York.

Phenotypes in SLE: Can They Predict Characteristic, Disease Outcomes and Treatment Needs?

Simultaneous use of more than one drug is gaining traction as a treatment strategy for severe lupus symptoms, particularly in people with chronic kidney disease.

 Mediterranean Diet Adherence and its Associations with Circulating Cytokines, Musculoskeletal Health and Incident Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Men

Adherence to a Mediterranean diet is associated with improved musculoskeletal health and fewer falls, according to study data presented at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) annual meeting held earlier this month.

ASBMR Report: Low Osteocalcin Linked to Glucocorticoid-Induced Diabetes

Low levels of osteocalcin are associated with an increased risk of diabetes in patients treated with glucocorticoids, according to a study presented on Sept. 11 at the American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR) annual meeting which wrapped this week as a virtual meeting.