News

Black Box Blues for Gout Treatment Febuxostat

Aryeh M. Abeles, M.D., talks with Rheumatology Network about the FDA's black box label for febuxostat, a gout treatment which, according to the results of one clinical trial, was shown to be associated with an increased risk of mortality. In this Q&A, Dr. Abeles, says the decision was based on flawed data. 

Follow-ups may prevent prescription abandonment

Nonadherence to a medication regimen is a problem in all of medicine, not just rheumatology. About 50 percent of all medications for chronic diseases are not taken as prescribed. Put another way, about two in every three Americans who have regular prescriptions aren’t taking them or aren’t taking them on schedule.

September is Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month

September is more than back to school and the arrival of pumpkin-spice-flavored everything. It is also Rheumatic Disease Awareness Month, a national effort created by the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) in 2016 to bring attention to the more than 100 conditions that fall under the umbrella of rheumatic disease.

The Negative Consequences of a Missed Diagnosis

A missed diagnosis can have negative consequences for patients, making it critical for providers to have a better understanding of vasculitis and its related syndromes. In a presentation given at the Rheumatology Nurses Society annual meeting earlier this month, Jeffrey Kaine, M.D., an independent rheumatology consultant based in Cullowhee, N.C., discussed the challenges in diagnosing and treating vasculitis. In this Q&A, Dr. Kaine covers some of the high points from his talk.

The Rheumatology Nurses Society met this month for their annual meeting. In this Q&A, we revisit a talk by Monica Richey, MSN, a rheumatology nurse practitioner with Northwell Health in New York who discusses treatment challenges in lupus.

Adalimumab Biosimilar Post-Marketing Report

An Indian-made biosimilar to adalimumab has been shown to be safe and effective for up to 24 weeks in patients with ankylosing spondylitis, say researchers writing in ACR Open Rheumatology this month.

Pregnancy Concerns Weigh Heavy on Female RA Patients

Women with rheumatoid arthritis are concerned with pregnancy and parenting issues and require more information from their doctors, say researchers writing in ACR Open Rheumatology this month.

New JAK Inhibitor Approved for Rheumatoid Arthritis

AbbVie announced on Friday that the Food and Drug Administration approved the oral once-daily JAK inhibitor Rinvoq (upadacitinib) for adults with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis who have had an inadequate response or intolerance to methotrexate.

RA Treatments Work, but Raise Infection Risk

Both TNF inhibitors and non-TNFi biologic DMARDs increase the risk of serious infection in rheumatoid arthritis patients compared to conventional synthetic DMARDs. Despite the risk, the treatments are effective in reducing disease activity, researchers report.

RNS Q&A:  Medical Marijuana and CBD Oils

One of the most common topics among healthcare providers and patients is the growing conversation around medical marijuana and CBD oils, particularly, it’s potential to alleviate pain and improve quality of life. In this Q&A, Nancy Delnay, a pediatric nurse practitioner with Akron Children’s Hospital, discussed the state of medical marijuana and CBD oils.

Rapid Onset Knee Osteoarthritis May be Overtreated

Adults with rapid onset knee osteoarthritis that occurs and progressess within as little as four years, are more likely to receive pharmacological treatments or even surgery than those who live with the condition long-term.

GCA Affects Black and White Patients Equally

A study published in JAMA Ophthalmology shows that giant cell arteritis affects black and white patients equally, despite previous reports that suggest the condition is relatively rare in black patients.

Modern pharmacologic therapies for rheumatoid arthritisare effective in controlling inflammation and preventing bone erosions however, a multitude of factors are likely to blame for ongoing bone loss in rheumatoid arthritis.