In this episode, Dr. Kumar discusses brief, everyday exchanges that send denigrating messages to certain individuals because of their group membership.
SMILE, an Online Lupus Tool, Can Aid Shared Decision Making
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) often face many concerns, fears and uncertainties that render “treatment decision making very difficult,” says Jasvinder Singh, MD, MPH, professor of medicine and epidemiology at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Often these patients, who tend to be women from minority groups, “do not have access to easily understandable…
‘Where Are You From?’ & Other Microaggressions
“I’m actually from Iowa. Where do you hail from?” I replied, in the friendliest tone I could muster. Many readers may already know the context, but I’ll rewind a few moments to clear up any ambiguity. I was in clinic and talking with a kind lady with joint pain. While I was in the middle…
ACR Image Competition 2023 Results, Part 4
For the 2023 Image Competition, the ACR sought images representing a diverse range of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIMs) or IIM mimics. Unilateral Heliotrope Rash in Anti-MDA-5 Antibody Dermatomyositis These images depict a 36-year-old patient with arthralgias, dyspnea and a unilateral heliotrope rash (image A). A unilateral heliotrope rash is a distinctive, but rare,…
Volunteerism: What’s in It for Me?
Daniel F. Battafarano, DO, MACP, MACR, shares the many ways his volunteering has enhanced his personal and professional life throughout his career.
When to Check Drug Levels & Why
Checking blood levels of commonly used disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) has gained widespread attention in the rheumatology community, even resulting in a recent guidance document from EULAR for biologics.1 Although a highly useful tool, drug level measurement in rheumatology is not without challenges; many of our drugs violate the basic principles of pharmacology that we…
A World View: The ACR Global Research Exchange Program Promotes Mentorship & Long-Term Collaboration in Rheumatology
2023 marks the post-pandemic return of research exchanges hosted by the ACR & EULAR to benefit junior academic rheumatologists & rheumatology professionals.
Focus on Community Practice Rheumatology
Community practice rheumatology brings with it certain challenges, but it also offers rewards, such as autonomy and the capacity to develop deep relationships with patients. Three rheumatologists discuss the challenges and rewards of private practice.
Sharad Lakhanpal, MBBS, MD, Named an APLAR Master
In early December, Sharad Lakhanpal, MBBS, MD, a rheumatologist at Rheumatology Associates in Dallas and past president of the ACR, traveled to Chiang Mai, Thailand, for the 2023 Congress of the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology (APLAR). There he was named an APLAR Master. The award is presented to someone not from APLAR,…
Pregnancy Outcomes in Patients Treated with TNF Inhibitors
A study found the continuation of tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) treatment in patients with chronic rheumatic inflammatory diseases after pregnancy diagnosis was not associated with worse outcomes than those who discontinued treatment with TNFi’s.
Insight into the FDA Approval of Ustekinumab Biosimilar
In late October, the FDA approved the first biosimilar to ustekinumab to treat patients with psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and other conditions. Ustekinumab-auub is expected to be available in the U.S. by 2025.