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UrduA new supplement published in Annals of Internal Medicine highlights important new evidence published in 2023 that readers may have missed.
Tag: Rheumatology
Atlantic Health System Enrolls First U.S. Patient in Lupus Treatment Trial
NJ-based Atlantic Health System is the first in the U.S. to enroll a patient in a study to examine the effectiveness of using Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR- T) cells in the treatment of the autoimmune disease lupus.
Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month — 10-Year-Old Johns Hopkins Children’s Center Patient’s Journey Living with Juvenile Arthritis
In December 2021, 9-year-old Bryce Lampe of Edgewater, Maryland, began experiencing serious symptoms — a fever, vomiting, diarrhea, and body aches so intense he could barely move, causing him to sleep like a corpse, recalls his mother, Alexandra.
Scleroderma Awareness Month
Scleroderma is an autoimmune disease characterized by thickening and scarring of the skin and vital organs, and the narrowing of the blood vessels which lead to poor circulation.
Skin conditions may indicate more serious rheumatic disease, UT Southwestern physician says
While rheumatic diseases typically affect the joints, muscles, or ligaments, the first signs of a problem may appear on the skin. A UT Southwestern physician who specializes in rheumatology says it’s essential to know what to look for.
New Guideline Introduces Recommendations for Optimal Timing of Elective Hip or Knee Arthroplasty
The ACR and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS) released a summary of its new guideline titled “the Optimal Timing of Elective Hip or Knee Arthroplasty for Patients with Symptomatic Moderate to Severe Osteoarthritis or Osteonecrosis Who Have Failed Nonoperative Therapy.”
UT Southwestern rheumatologist recommends patients receive pneumococcal vaccine
Patients with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and other rheumatic conditions are more at risk for complications and death from pneumonia, meningitis, and other bacterial infections, yet most have not been vaccinated against infection.
American College of Rheumatology: Proposed Rule Will Bring Great Transparency to Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization
The American College of Rheumatology said the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Proposed Rule will bring greater transparency, reduce administrative burden, & make turnaround on prior authorization more predictable for payers.
New Look at an Ancient Disease: Study Finds Novel Treatment Targets for Gout
UC San Diego scientists identify a new molecular model and potential therapeutic target for gout, the most common form of inflammatory arthritis.
Higher-Dose Pneumococcal Vaccines Improve Immune Response in ANCA-associated Vasculitis Patients Receiving Rituximab
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, showed that a higher dose of pneumococcal vaccine safely and effectively improved antibody response in patients receiving rituximab for ANCA-associated vasculitis.
Study Finds Most Fetal Congenital Heart Block Screening Fails to Meet Guidelines
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, found that most echocardiography screening for fetal congenital heart block in anti-Ro- and anti-La-positive pregnancies did not follow recommended guidelines in one academic medical center.
Study Finds Spine Disease Is More Common in Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis than Previously Thought
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, shows that spine disease, once considered a rarity in chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis, affects as many as 10-35% of patients and is asymptomatic in one-third.
Study Finds Holding Methotrexate for One Week after Flu Vaccine May Be as Effective as a Two-Week Hold
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, showed that discontinuing methotrexate for 1 week after seasonal influenza vaccination provided the same seroprotection as a 2 week discontinuation period in patients with RA.
Study Finds Combination Therapy Does Little to Slow Spine Damage in Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis Patients
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, showed that combining a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug and TNF inhibitor did not significantly slow radiographic spinal progression in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis patients.
Study Finds No Increased Cancer Risk in Rheumatology Patients with History of Malignancy Taking DMARDS and TNF Inhibitors
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence, the organization’s annual meeting, found no significant difference in cancer risk in patients with rheumatic disease & a history of malignancy taking biologic or targeted synthetic DMARDs compared to those treated with TNF inhibitors.
Study Finds Opioids Double Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, found that adult RA patients starting opioids had twice the risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) compared to patients starting nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Study Links Lower Hydroxychloroquine Dose to More Hospitalizations for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Flares
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual scientific meeting, found that the recommended weight-based or non-weight-based dose of hydroxychloroquine led to more hospitalizations for flares among patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
Primary Care Provider Training Program Improves RA Care on Navajo Nation
Research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, described a novel program that offers rheumatoid arthritis (RA) training to primary care providers in the Navajo Nation, the largest American Indian reservation in the United States.
Study Finds Early TNF Inhibitor Treatment Is Associated with Higher Heart Disease Risk in Ankylosing Spondylitis Patients — with Caveats
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, found that early initiation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors was associated with higher risk of heart disease in patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis.
Study Finds More Polyarticular JIA Patients Achieve Clinical Remission with Combined Conventional and Biologic DMARDs
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, demonstrated that polyarticular JIA patients were more likely to achieve clinical remission with a combination of conventional and biologic DMARDs compared with other treatment plans.
Study Finds NSAID Use and Age May Delay Conception in Spondyloarthritis Patients
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, showed that treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and older age were associated with longer time to conception in spondyloarthritis patients.
New Analysis Finds Belimumab Improves Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus in Patients with or without SLE
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, found that the B-cell inhibitor belimumab significantly improved cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE) whether or not patients also had systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or lupus).
Study Finds Lower Risk of Severe Infection and Hospitalization with Belimumab Compared to Oral Immunosuppressants
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, found that the biologic B-cell inhibitor belimumab was associated with a lower risk of severe infections and hospitalizations compared to nonbiologic immunosuppressants.
Artificial Intelligence Shows Potential for Accurate Assessment of Nailfold Changes in Systemic Sclerosis Patients
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, showed that the Vision Transformer, an open-source computer vision algorithm, could detect changes in nailfold capillaroscopy images from systemic sclerosis patients.
Researchers Develop a Risk Score to Help Detect ILD in Systemic Sclerosis Patients
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, described a first-of-its-kind validated tool to screen for systemic sclerosis-associated interstitial lung disease.
Holding Mycophenolate Mofetil for 10 Days or More May Improve COVID-19 Vaccine Response
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, demonstrated that withholding mycophenolate mofetil for 10 days significantly increased antibody response after 2 doses of COVID-19 vaccine, without a significant increase in flares.
Preterm Birth More Common in Unvaccinated Pregnant Patients with Rheumatic Disease and COVID-19
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence 2022, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, found a greater number of preterm births in unvaccinated versus fully vaccinated pregnant patients with rheumatic disease and COVID-19.
New Guideline Introduces Recommendations for Integrative Approach to RA Treatment
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) released a summary of its new guideline for Exercise, Rehabilitation, Diet and Additional Integrative Interventions for Rheumatoid Arthritis. This is the first ACR guideline about an Integrative Approach to RA.
American College of Rheumatology Educating Dermatologists and Nephrologists on Lupus Clinical Trials Racial Disparities
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has released Continuing Medical Education (CME) for dermatologists and nephrologists to help them learn more about clinical trials for lupus patients in their treatment areas and the importance of getting more of African American/Black patients enrolled.
Novel Study Identifies Key Molecular Players in Rheumatoid Arthritis
Using a novel systems biology approach, scientists at UC San Diego School of Medicine have further parsed the cellular players and roles involved in rheumatoid arthritis, a complex disease that affects more than one million Americans in ways that have defied development of uniform treatments.
Press Registration Now Open for ACR Convergence 2022
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is providing complimentary registration to journalists wishing to write about studies presented at ACR Convergence 2022, the ACR’s annual meeting taking place Nov. 10 – 14.
Updated Guideline Introduces Recommendations for Prevention and Treatment of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) released a summary of its updated guideline for the Prevention and Treatment of Glucocorticoid-Induced Osteoporosis. New osteoporosis medications and new literature have become available since the last ACR treatment guideline was published in 2017.
American College of Rheumatology Comments on 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule & Quality Payment Program Rules
In comments submitted to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) in response to the CY 2023 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and Quality Payment Program proposed rule, the ACR applauded proposals that would provide more flexibility and improve care coordination.
ACR Statement on Access to Reproductive Healthcare
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is deeply concerned about the U.S. Supreme
Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson ruling because it negatively impacts the practice of rheumatology.
New HSS Study Defines Disease Characteristics for Patients with Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease
A new study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) has further clarified the clinical manifestations of undifferentiated connective tissue disease (UCTD). The findings were published as an abstract in the meeting journal of the European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR) 2022 Congress.
ACR Urges the FTC to Examine the Impact of Pharmacy Benefit Managers on Prescription Drug Costs
In comments submitted to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the American College of Rheumatology (ACR) urged the agency to address Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) business practices that drive up costs and reduce access for the 54 million Americans living with rheumatic disease.
Early Combined Treatment with Biologic and Conventional DMARDs Could be Effective for Polyarticular Juvenile Arthritis
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, found that patients started on early, aggressive treatment with a combination of biologic and conventional disease modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) achieved clinically inactive disease in children with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) more frequently compared to other treatment plans 24 months after starting treatment.
Race, Age, Sex and Language Affected Telemedicine Use by Rheumatology Clinic Patients During COVID-19 Pandemic
New research presented this week at ACR Convergence, the American College of Rheumatology’s annual meeting, shows a significant lack of fairness among telemedicine and electronic patient portals used by rheumatology clinic patients based on their race, age, sex and English language proficiency.
NYU Langone Presentations at American College of Rheumatology Convergence 2021 to Address Vaccine Efficacy and High-risk Pregnancy
NYU Langone rheumatologists are presenting their discoveries at the annual American College of Rheumatology conference, November 1 to November 9. The conference will be held virtually.
Patients with rare scleroderma have deadlier organ damage, despite getting standard treatment
Patients with a rare form of scleroderma that causes more skin thickening have a greater chance of dying from related heart, lung and kidney problems, a new study found. This occurs despite the patient population taking drugs used to treat most people with scleroderma. Researchers say it is an opportunity for more targeted drug development.
Discovery of a potential new therapy for inflammatory arthritis
Ankylosing spondylitis is a painful and inflammatory form of axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) which affects 1-2% of Canadians and causes inflammation in the spine, joints, eyes, gut and skin. In a new paper recently published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, researchers at the Schroeder Arthritis Institute at UHN have made a discovery that could lead to new treatments for SpA.
Press Registration Now Open for ACR Convergence 2021
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is providing complimentary registration to journalists wishing to write about studies presented at ACR Convergence 2021, the ACR’s annual meeting taking place Nov. 1 – 10.
Town Hall on Effectiveness of COVID-19 Vaccination in Immunosuppressed Patients Hosted by the American College of Rheumatology
How effective COVID-19 vaccines’ have been in immunosuppressed and rheumatic disease patients remains an incompletely answered question. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has organized an expert panel to share what we are learning from real-world data and answer questions.
Award-Winning Journalist and CDC Principal Investigator to Serve as ACR Convergence 2021 Keynote Speaker
Convergence 2021, the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology (ACR), returns to a virtual meeting platform Nov. 1 – 10. This year’s meeting will include presentations from over 320 clinicians, researchers and health experts, including this year’s keynote speaker, Dr. Seema Yasmin.
The American College of Rheumatology/Vasculitis Foundation Release Three New Guidelines for Treatment of Vasculitis
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR), in partnership with the Vasculitis Foundation (VF), released three new guidelines for the treatment and management of systemic vasculitis.
ACR Co-Authors Amicus Brief in Support of North Dakota Regulating PBM Industry
The Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP), the Community Oncology Alliance (COA), and American Pharmacies filed an amicus brief with the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals in support of North Dakota’s efforts to regulate practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
ACR Releases Position Statement on Patient Safety and Site of Service for Biologics
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has released an updated position statement on patient safety and site of service for biologics outlining several reasons why the ACR strongly believes infusions should be administered in a monitored health care setting with onsite supervision by a provider with appropriate training in biologic infusions.
Researchers discover potential new approach to treating psoriatic joint inflammation
An international team of researchers, led by UC Davis Health, developed a new therapeutic approach to treating psoriatic arthritis, a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the joints.
Story Tips from Johns Hopkins Experts on COVID-19
NEWS STORIES IN THIS ISSUE:
-Physician and Musician: Johns Hopkins Doctor Brings Passion for Music to Medicine During Pandemic
-Rapid, At-Home Blood Test Could Confirm COVID-19 Vaccination in Minutes
-What to Expect and Prepare for As You Return to Regular Health Care Appointments
-Study Suggests Sudden Hearing Loss Not Associated with COVID-19 Vaccination
-Vaccination May Not Rid COVID-19 Risk for Those with Rheumatic, Musculoskeletal Diseases
Patients Taking Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Respond Less Well to COVID-19 Vaccine
One-quarter of people who take the drug methotrexate for common immune system disorders — from rheumatoid arthritis to multiple sclerosis — mount a weaker immune response to a COVID-19 vaccine, a new study shows.