ACR CONVERGENCE 2020—In patients with connective tissue diseases, such as systemic sclerosis (SSc), pulmonary hypertension (PH) remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. In her lecture on Friday, Nov. 6, Pulmonary Hypertension: An Update, Mardi Gomberg-Maitland, MD, MSc, professor of medicine and medical director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program at The George…
The Great Debate: Should Jakinibs Be Used Before Biologics after Methotrexate Failure in RA?
ACR CONVERGENCE 2020—In many ways, the current plethora of treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis patients represents an embarrassment of riches. However, while many therapeutics approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) are available, knowing the order in which to try these medications with patients can be quite challenging. In The Great Debate, held…
ACR Convergence 2020: Studies in Rheumatoid Arthritis
ACR CONVERGENCE 2020—Moderated by Bill St.Clair, MD, MACR, an ACR past president and a professor of medicine and immunology at Duke University Medical Center, Durham, N.C., an abstract session on Friday, Nov. 6, focused on the diagnosis, manifestations and outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), with a focus on interstitial lung disease. RA with ILD Jeffrey…
ACR Convergence 2020 Kicks Off: Plenary session speakers highlight racial differences in lupus & COVID-19-related findings
ACR CONVERGENCE 2020—The ACR’s first fully virtual annual meeting kicked off on Thursday, Nov. 5. During the Opening Session, ACR President Ellen M. Gravallese, MD, talked about how the specialty’s response during the pandemic has provided great hope and will help rheumatology become an even more essential specialty. At the first Plenary Session on Friday,…
Gout: The State of the Science
In light of the release of the ACR’s new gout guideline, it’s not surprising that 50 abstracts of studies on various aspects of gout were accepted at ACR Convergence 2020. Here, we highlight just a few:
ACR Convergence 2020 Workshop Covers 2021 Practice Management & Coding Changes
Attendees at the daylong workshop will learn about key evaluation and management code changes coming in 2021 that affect rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals.
Bring Quality Measures into Focus at ACR Convergence 2020
A panel of rheumatologists will provide updates on MACRA’s quality measure requirements and the ACR’s progress in quality measurement in rheumatology in a session at ACR Convergence 2020.
Pregnancy Complications in Patients with Lupus & APS
Pregnancy complications are common in lupus and antiphospholipid syndrome (APS), but can we predict and prevent them? The Rheumatology Research Foundation Memorial Lectureship to Honor Shaun Ruddy, MD, will review the predictors and mechanisms of pregnancy complications, as well as potential interventions for preventing pregnancy complications associated with lupus and APS. Watch for it on…
Lupus Nephritis: New Decade, New Approaches
This session at ACR Convergence will focus on early biomarkers for diagnostic and prognostic purposes, as well as the description of current treatment guidelines from multiple societies. The speakers will discuss the role of repeated biopsy to assess response and maintenance therapy, and describe some promising new therapies under development. Watch for it on Sunday,…
Pain in RA and OA: ACR Convergence 2020 Preview
Patients with RA and OA have joint pain, and pain is the primary reason patients seek care. The mechanisms responsible for the pain are now just beginning to be understood. This session, on Nov. 6, 4 p.m. EST, will cover the mechanisms responsible for the development of pain in both inflammatory and degenerative arthritis.