Search results for: hospital

Guselkumab Improves Active Psoriatic Arthritis

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP, & Lara C. Pullen, PhD | January 11, 2017

A study showed that guselkumab may decrease symptoms of psoriatic arthritis and improve quality of life in adult patients…

Insurance Subcommittee to the Rescue

Mary Beth Nierengarten | January 4, 2017

Concerned about reimbursement for specialty drugs? Wondering if your patient can continue on a prescribed medication despite formulary changes? Unsure how to request a tier exception? No need to face these issues alone. The ACR has a resource that can assist with questions regarding coverage and payment policies for private insurers and Medicare. That resource…

FDA Update: FX006 Promising for Knee OA; Pioglitazone Linked to Bladder Cancer Risk; & HIV Drug Gets New Labeling

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | January 4, 2017

The makers of FX006, a steroid injection for treating pain in patients with knee osteoarthritis, have submitted a new drug application to the FDA…

Liquid Biopsy Provides Insights into Lupus

Lara C. Pullen, PhD | January 2, 2017

Microparticles in the blood of SLE patients may be a source of extracellular HMGB1, which is involved in immune response. Researchers found that analysis may be able to determine if the patient is producing dead, dying and activated cells that are important for SLE pathogenesis…

New Test Yields Rapid Infliximab Drug Concentrations

Will Boggs, MD | December 22, 2016

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—A new test provides rapid infliximab drug concentrations that enable immediate dosing adjustments, researchers from Belgium report. “With this rapid test, our biggest wish is to persuade physicians to now perform and use infliximab measurements also in their own daily clinical practice, as many practical and organizational issues that went along with…

Certolizumab Pegol Usage Compatible with Breastfeeding

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | December 20, 2016

In a small-scale study, researchers found that no, or minimal amounts of, certolizumab pegol transfers from mothers taking the drug to nursing infants…

The OPAL Beyond Study: Tofacitinib Phase 3 Results Positive for Treating PsA

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | December 20, 2016

In a recent study, patients with psoriatic arthritis taking tofacitinib had a decrease in disease activity compared with placebo…

The Future of Pediatric Rheumatology Grounded in Evolution of Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance

Yukiko Kimura, MD, & Laura E. Schanberg, MD | December 15, 2016

Pediatric rheumatology was formally recognized as a specialty in 1991 by the American Board of Pediatrics. Prior to this time, children with rheumatic diseases were treated by a hodgepodge of providers. In addition to providers who had training as pediatric rheumatologists, general pediatricians, adult rheumatologists, allergist-immunologists, orthopedists, pediatric infectious disease specialists and others treated children…

Rheumatology Case Report: Systemic Capillary Leak Syndrome and Rheumatoid Arthritis

Alexis Smith, MD, & Angus Worthing, MD, FACP, FACR | December 15, 2016

Systemic capillary leak syndrome (SCLS) is a very rare disorder, characterized by recurrent episodes of severe hypotension, hypoalbuminemia and hemoconcentration.1 Attacks of SCLS occur in three phases: 1) prodrome; 2) hypovolemia with weight gain; and 3) hypervolemia with fluid overload and polyuria often complicated by pulmonary edema. Often, compartment syndrome can lead to rhabdomyolysis as…

Assessing Autoimmune Disease Symptoms in Silicone Breast Implant Recipients

Charles Radis, DO | December 15, 2016

My nurse, Joanne, took me aside before I began my next consult. “Room No. 5, breast implant patient. Her lawyer organized the records.” She handed me a hefty three-ring notebook organized by color-coded tabs. “Her attorney called just now,” Joanne raised an eyebrow, “and told me to tell you that, to save time, he highlighted…