Exclusive: ACR Convergence 2024| Focus Rheums

An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

FDA Officials Speak Out: New Approvals & Safety Concerns Discussed

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PHILADELPHIA—Officials from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration discussed recent drug approvals and drug safety issues at ACR Convergence in November in a session that captured the flurry of activity in the rheumatology sphere at the agency over the past year. Sabiha Khan, MD, clinical reviewer in the Division of Rheumatology and Transplant Medicine at…

Mitigating Drug Shortages: FDA Officials Say Communication Is Crucial

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PHILADELPHIA—The most vital component of avoiding drug shortages is early communication, officials from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) said in a session at ACR Convergence 2022 in November. “Early notification is key in order to prevent and mitigate shortages,” said Hyun Son, PharmD, a member of the Drug Shortage Staff with the FDA…

Advocacy Is Central to Patient Care, Distinguished Lecturer Says

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When she saw vaping taking hold at a middle school, Kamala Nola, PharmD, MS, spoke up about concerns for the students’ risk of rheumatic disease and other health issues. At ACR Convergence 2022, Dr. Nola emphasized that every healthcare professional can act as an advocate through everyday actions.

COVID-19 Vaccine Responses Among the Immunosuppressed

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PHILADELPHIA—Patients with rheumatic diseases often mount an adequate immune response after receiving COVID-19 vaccinations, but that is not always the case, and certain medications make patients more prone to having an insufficient response, said Judith James, MD, PhD, chair, Arthritis and Clinical Immunology Research Program, Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, at an ACR Convergence…

Pseudo-What? Exploring the Classification Criteria Development Process for CPPD

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PHILADELPHIA—The term pseudogout has been a source of confusion among rheumatologists, especially as our understanding of calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposition (CPPD) disease has become more nuanced. This condition has many complex and interesting facets that warrant closer investigation. An ACR Convergence 2022 session sought to update the audience on the progress to date in developing…

String of Pearls: Lessons in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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PHILADELPHIA—William “Bill” R. Palmer, MD, MACR, was the first board-certified rheumatologist in Omaha, Neb., where he spent his entire 43-year clinical career and established himself as a great clinician, mentor and educator. Although Dr. Palmer passed away from metastatic thyroid cancer in August 2021, his memory lives on through his physician colleagues and at ACR…