Focus Rheums| Dr. Jekyll or Mr. Hyde? (video)

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Sarilumab Trial Data Shows It May Only Help Critical COVID-19 Patients

Saumya Joseph  |  

(Reuters)—On April 27, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals Inc. and Sanofi SA said on Monday that their arthritis drug sarilumab (Kevzara) may only help the sickest patients with COVID-19, dampening hopes that the therapy could potentially reach a larger pool of patients with the disease. The drugmakers said they would test high doses of sarilumab only in critically…

Autoimmunity on the Rise in the U.S.

Marilynn Larkin  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—The prevalence of antinuclear antibodies (ANA) in the blood of U.S. adolescents and adults has increased over the past 30 years, signaling a rise in autoimmunity, researchers say. “It is not known if these same increases are occurring in other parts of the world, but because ANA are associated with many autoimmune…

How to Maintain Connections with Colleagues, Staff & Patients During a Pandemic: A Q&A with Reshma Khan, MD

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As the cases of COVID-19 continue to rise in South Florida, Reshma Khan, MD, a rheumatologist at the Palm Beach Rheumatology and Wellness Center, Jupiter, Fla., is being careful to emphasize social distancing, but not social isolation. Dr. Khan believes that, during this pandemic, it’s more important than ever for rheumatologists to share support and…

Patients Need Psychosocial Support Now More Than Ever: Q&A with Adena Batterman, MSW, LCSW

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How are rheumatology professionals affected by the physical distancing and other challenges presented by COVID-19? The Rheumatologist interviewed Adena Batterman, MSW, LCSW, senior manager of inflammatory arthritis support and education programs at the Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, to discuss how the pandemic has changed the way she and her staff maintain continuity of…

Patient Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity: Do You Need to Know?—Ethics Forum

Nayimisha Balmuri, MD, Jacob Spitznagle, MD, & Karen Onel, MD  |  

A 17-year-old girl presents to the pediatric rheumatology clinic for follow-up of recently diagnosed systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) characterized by class IV lupus nephritis, photosensitive rash and antiphospholid antibody positivity. She is currently being treated with prednisone, mycophenolate mofetil, and hydroxychloroquine. She is accompanied by her mother, who has been very involved in the patient’s…

New Processes May Stick Around After the Pandemic: Q&A with Wendy Ramey, BSPharm, RPh, CSP

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How are COVID-19 and physical distancing restrictions at work affecting rheumatology professionals? The Rheumatologist interviewed clinical pharmacist Wendy Ramey, BSPharm, RPh, CSP, to discuss how the pandemic has changed the way her staff supports rheumatologists at the University of Kentucky Specialty Pharmacy and Infusion Services, Lexington. Ms. Ramey describes how these unprecedented times affect patients,…

2 Patients on Different DMARDs Experience Different COVID-19 Disease Courses

Luis A. Marcos, MD, MPH, Saika Sharmeen, DO, Jaime Gonzalez, MD, Qingping Yao, MD, PhD, Bettina Fries, MD, & Jack Fuhrer, MD  |  

In March 2020, an elderly married couple living on Long Island, N.Y., presented to our emergency department with symptoms suspicious for COVID-19 infection. The wife, a-76-year-old woman, presented with complaints of subjective fevers, minimal dry cough and headaches of one-week duration. She denied having any chills, rhinorrhea, diarrhea, abdominal pain or shortness of breath. Two…