The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) approved nintedanib for systemic sclerosis associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) on Sept. 6 after a randomized, controlled trial (SENSCIS) demonstrated significant benefit against placebo.1 At a cost of $96,000 per year, treatment reduced the adjusted annual rate of change in forced vital capacity (FVC) from –93.3 mL in…
The patient medical history is far more prominent in clinical decisions for rheumatology than for many common chronic diseases in which a gold standard biomarker, such as blood pressure or serum glucose, is applicable to diagnosis and management of all individual patients.1 Components of a subjective patient history may be recorded as structured, quantitative, standard,…
The year is drawing to a close, and I have not been forced to release a statement that I am leaving The Rheumatologist “to spend more time with my family.” Once again, improbably, I have made it to the finish line. Given that, now seems to be a good time to reflect, and to give…
The ACR thanks all members who donated to RheumPAC this year. These contributions enable the ACR to educate key legislators and their staffs about the important issues rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals face. Every dollar raised goes directly to the re-election campaigns of legislative leaders in our field to help those who best understand our issues…
As chair, Dr. Douglas White hopes to find ways to diversify the ACR’s revenue streams and increase transparency around how the organization spends member dues.
Three full-time, ACR advocacy staffers are now working in Washington, D.C., to provide a daily presence for national rheumatology lobbying efforts.
Challenges related to diagnosing chondritis are discussed.
I had the opportunity to attend the Rheumatology Research Workshop in Washington, D.C., in June 2019. Held annually, this two-day meeting is run by the ACR Early Career Investigators (ECI) Subcommittee and is geared toward trainees at all levels (fellows, residents and medical students) and junior faculty with an interest in a rheumatology research career….
ATLANTA—Dry eyes and mouth are common symptoms in the general population. When patients report these symptoms to their primary care provider and other consultants, it may prompt a referral to a rheumatologist to rule out Sjögren’s syndrome. However, as discussed in the 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting session, Sjögren’s Syndrome: Beyond the Dryness, evaluation of this…
Recent research has found a higher does of anifrolumab may benefit patients with moderate to severe SLE…