Sarilumab is now FDA approved to treat adults with polymyalgia rheumatica who have had an inadequate response to glucocorticoids or who cannot tolerate a glucocorticoid taper. This new indication is based on results from the multicenter, phase 3 SAPHYR trial.
Avoiding real and apparent conflicts of interest is a fundamental principle of guideline development, but what should we do when every thought leader is conflicted? An example of this conundrum in rheumatology has been the ACR’s ongoing effort to establish guidelines for the management of lupus nephritis, which has been stymied by the fact that…
Periungual Erythema & Its Translation on Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy in a Patient with Very Early Systemic Sclerosis A 66-year-old woman presented with Raynaud’s phenomenon and periungual erythema. HEp-2 immunofluorescence assay was positive for antinuclear antibodies, showing a centromere pattern. The presence of anti-centromere antibodies was confirmed by chemiluminescent immunoassay. The patient was diagnosed with very early…
COVID-19 causes myriad cardiac dysfunctions, ranging from mild to fulminant disease, including myocarditis, acute congestive heart failure, cardiogenic shock and sudden cardiac death.1,2 COVID-19 myocarditis can mimic cardiac sarcoidosis clinically and on cardiac imaging, which can lead to diagnostic challenges and treatment delays. We present a case of cardiac sarcoidosis with interval development of metabolic…
I have been reading Yuval Harari’s thought-provoking and engaging book, Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind, about our species’ struggles and the path that led to our emergence as the predominant species. I was captivated by the drawing of the hand of one of our ancestors and mused about what that forebear was thinking as…
Adami et al. examined the fracture risk associated with glucocorticoid treatment in women with inflammatory rheumatic musculoskeletal diseases, finding that low-dose glucocorticoid use may result in significant bone mineral density loss in patients who are not on anti-osteoporotic drugs.
The ACR recently released its first guideline focused on vaccination in adult and pediatric patients with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases.1 The guideline recommends modifications to certain vaccine and medication schedules to increase immunogenicity and ensure patient safety, while encouraging providers not to miss vaccination opportunities. The Need Patients with rheumatic conditions who are on immunosuppressive…
Research by Chicre et al. found that Janus kinase inhibitors may significantly increase the risk of major adverse cardiac events and all-cause death in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) when compared with other RA treatments. This study highlights the need for more comparative safety studies.
Supplemental vitamin D may not significantly lower the risk of fractures in generally healthy adults compared with placebo, according to a large study by LeBoff et al.
With 2023 state legislative sessions underway, early prevailing themes may forecast areas where we will see gains this year. Key issues include utilization management, copay accumulator bans, white bagging and pharmacy benefit manager reform.