Exclusive: ACR Convergence 2024| Focus Rheums

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

Anti-CarP May Play Special Role in RA-Associated Mortality

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Researchers may have established a relationship between a new RA autoantibody, anti-carbamylated protein (anti-CarP) antibodies, and increased mortality risk. The recent study showed that anti-CarP was the only autoantibody associated with mortality, specifically respiratory system cause of death…

ATAP Holds Inaugural In-Person Meeting

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The ACR recently announced the launch of the Alliance for Transparent & Affordable Prescriptions (ATAP), a coalition of provider and patient groups concerned about the role pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) play in driving up drug costs. The inaugural ATAP in-person meeting wrapped up on July 19 in Washington, D.C. The Alliance currently consists of the…

How to Fuel Engaged Patient Dialogue

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“Too often, a patient may feel too intimidated to ask a question,” says Ara Dikranian, MD. Here are considerations and communication techniques rheumatologists can use to encourage greater patient understanding and engagement…

Soccer, Wrestling among Sports Tied to Risk of Knee Arthritis

Will Boggs MD  |  

(Reuters Health)—Participation in some sports, including soccer, wrestling and elite-level long-distance running, may increase the risk of knee osteoarthritis, researchers say. “While the typical athlete is not at a greater risk of knee osteoarthritis, it was interesting to see that certain athletes may be more likely to have knee osteoarthritis later in life, specifically, elite…

Rheumatology Drug Updates: Uncertain Future for Romosozumab, Plus FDA Approves Tocilizumab for GCA

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Romosozumab’s Future Is Uncertain Romosozumab, which has the possible U.S. brand name Evenity, is awaiting approval from the FDA.1 The treatment is an investigational, injectable biologic for treating osteoporosis. It increases bone formation and bone density, reducing a patient’s risk of fractures. The manufacturer no longer expects the FDA to approve the drug this year…

U.S. Senate Republicans Complain of Disarray in Healthcare Effort

Susan Cornwell and Amanda Becker  |  

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—U.S. Senate Republicans, scolded by President Donald Trump for failing to overturn Obamacare, tried to salvage their seven-year effort for a new healthcare law on Thursday, but leading senators indicated frustration over shifting goal posts. Trump on Wednesday told the Senate’s fractured Republican majority to revive a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare that…

Allopurinol Appears More Renoprotective than Febuxostat in Older Adults

Reuters Staff  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The renal protective effect of allopurinol appears to differ from that of febuxostat in the elderly, according to new research. The study, of a nationally representative sample of Medicare patients, showed that allopurinol was associated with a greater reduction in the risk of incident kidney disease, report the authors online July 13…

As Obamacare Repeal Falters, Insurers Start to Press on Subsidies

Caroline Humer and Yasmeen Abutaleb  |  

NEW YORK/WASHINGTON (Reuters)—A failed Republican effort to replace Obamacare raised new concerns on Tuesday for U.S. health insurers over whether the government will continue to fund billions of dollars in medical benefit subsidies. The healthcare bill under consideration in the U.S. Senate would have settled the funding question, but was scrapped after Republican leaders were…

Senate Republicans Reluctantly Consider Bipartisan Healthcare Talks

Amanda Becker and Susan Cornwell  |  

WASHINGTON (Reuters)—As their seven-year effort to repeal and replace Obamacare derailed in the U.S. Senate, Republicans faced the prospect of doing the once unthinkable: working with Democrats to make fixes to former President Barack Obama’s 2010 healthcare law. Bipartisan breakthroughs would likely come in the form of individual bills targeted at issues such as stabilizing…