MDedge Rheumatology

05/06/2023

Targeted synthetic and biologic therapies are recommended as disease-modifying agents for key fibrotic manifestations of systemic sclerosis for the first time in the 2023 update of European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology recommendations for the treatment of systemic sclerosis.

The update to 2017 recommendations include targeted synthetic and biologic DMARDs for the first time.

28/01/2023

New disease more common than expected, 'quite severe'

A large U.S. analysis found that this newly discovered genetic disease has a estimated prevalence of 1 in 4,269 in men older than 50.

27/01/2023

Doc sues AMA for defamation over 2022 election controversy

The lawsuit sheds light on the power dynamics of a politically potent organization that has more than 271,000 members and holds assets of $1.2 billion.

26/01/2023

Docs' happiness has not rebounded from pandemic

Nearly half of physicians said they were somewhat or very unhappy at work, compared with 75% before the pandemic, according to a new report.

25/01/2023

Cardio-rheum clinics care 'the newest child' for unique cases

Cardio-rheumatology programs are "the newest child" in a series of cardiology offshoots focusing on different populations, and such clinics aim to both prevent and manage complex cardiovascular conditions in patients with autoimmune rheumatologic diseases.

24/01/2023

VEXAS syndrome: More common, variable, and severe than expected

A large U.S. analysis found that this newly discovered genetic disease has a estimated prevalence of 1 in 4,269 in men older than 50.

11/01/2023

Problematic alcohol use on the rise among physicians?

Investigators found the prevalence of self-reported problematic alcohol use varied widely, but could affect up to one-third of physicians.

09/01/2023

CV risk score multipliers suggested for rheumatic diseases

07/01/2023

2% cut in Medicare pay slated for 2023

The bill also authorizes new policies regarding accelerated drug approvals.

05/01/2023

Knee OA may be best managed with hyaluronic acid injections or no injections.

03/01/2023

Two conservative interventions are effective for treating acute and subacute spine pain, new research suggests.

Compared to usual primary care, both interventions reduced pain-related disability at 3 months and these changes were sustained.

24/12/2022

Taking NSAIDs for knee osteoarthritis may worsen inflammation and pain over time, suggest new data.

Researchers find no long-term benefit and worse inflammation and cartilage quality over 4 years.

22/12/2022

'“By enforcing cutoffs in general, you’re losing the ability for each surgeon to determine who they want to operate on.'

Patients with a high BMI are at a greater risk for complications during and after surgery, but some experts argue that strict BMI cutoffs are arbitrary and can worsen disparities in care.

18/12/2022

Asking knee osteoarthritis patients a simple question – do you have difficulty climbing stairs? – may predict the risk of future functional limitation.

Stair climbing difficulty in knee OA patients may predict future limitations and aid interventions.

16/12/2022

Randomized trial finds DMARD therapy for RA has a beneficial effect on vascular inflammation, CV risk

Receipt of a tumor necrosis factor inhibitor or triple therapy for rheumatoid arthritis yielded an equally beneficial effect for reducing vascular inflammation and cardiovascular risk.

13/12/2022

Rheumatology Match Day follows same pattern as previous years

Pediatric rheumatology didn't do as well as adult programs, filling just 18 of 32 certified programs (56.3%) and 27 out of 43 certified positions (62.8%).

10/12/2022

Patients with rheumatic disease are at least half as likely to develop long COVID after a SARS-CoV-2 infection if they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to research.

Although it's possible the higher proportion of Omicron cases in vaccinated patients accounted for lower rates of long COVID, differences in variants likely couldn't account for all the findings.