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An official publication of the ACR and the ARP serving rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals

California Insurance Commissioner Urges U.S. to Block Anthem-Cigna Deal

Reuters Staff  |  

(Reuters)—California’s insurance commissioner on Thursday urged the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to block health insurer Anthem Inc.’s acquisition of Cigna Corp., saying he is concerned it will raise premiums in the state. Dave Jones, who as insurance commissioner in California does not have authority to approve the deal, says he believes his recommendation will…

French Prosecutors Open Probe into Fatal Drug Trial

Reuters Staff  |  

PARIS (Reuters)—Paris prosecutors said on Tuesday they have begun an involuntary manslaughter investigation into a failed drug trial that left one dead and five hospitalized in January. The prosecutors’ office said the investigation had been opened to determine whether there was a criminal element in any mistakes made or whether it was simply the result…

Arthritis Patients Lack Knowledge about Safe Use of Biologics

Will Boggs, MD  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Many patients with arthritis lack the knowledge to use their biologic treatments safely, researchers from France report. “Some patients are at risk of poorly managing their biologic therapy, especially patients living alone, in a large city, patients with low education level, or (patients who are) unemployed,” Dr. Anne-Christine Rat from CHU de…

Certolizumab Combo Helps Curb RA Damage

David Douglas  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Certolizumab pegol (Cimzia, UCB Pharma) in combination with methotrexate does better than methotrexate alone in certain patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), according to one-year results from a new trial. As Dr. Paul Emery of the University of Leeds, UK, explains in an email to Reuters Health, “This study used a unique…

Opinion: Erosive Changes Questioned in RA/Lupus Overlap Syndrome

George A.W. Bruyn, MD, PhD  |  

I read with interest the Diagnostic View (TR, April), which, according to the authors, represented a case of rhupus, an overlap syndrome of RA and SLE. I challenge this view. My arguments: In the case of erosive RA, typically erosive changes are seen at MTP joints other than MTP1 (e.g., MTP5). In addition, the erosive…

Opinion: More Tests Needed to Diagnose Fever of Unknown Origin

Alan Zalkowitz, MD  |  

I’m writing in regard to the article, “Fever of Unknown Origin” (TR, March 2016), by Charles Radis, DO. In regard to the non-caseating granulomas, there was no mention of epithelioid or giant cells. In addition, it was mainly [complement] C4 in the center of the granulomas, which is often found in sarcoidosis. Moreover, whether these…

Rheumatoid Arthritis & Autoimmune Glomerulonephritis

Rheumatoid Arthritis & Autoimmune Glomerulonephritis

Diana M. Girnita, MD, PhD, Shahzad Safdar, MD, & Avis Ware, MD  |  

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is rarely associated with renal manifestations, but secondary amyloidosis due to chronic inflammation is reported to be the etiology of renal dysfunction in many cases of RA.1,2 The discovery of biologic therapy, with TNF-alpha inhibitors in particular, made a huge difference in the disease course and prognosis of RA patients. However, TNF-alpha…

Christopher Ritchlin Balances Patient Care with Beekeeping Hobby

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When Christopher Ritchlin, MD, MPH, isn’t teaching students, residents and fellows at the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC), treating patients or conducting medical research in his lab, he’s monitoring the health of another sort of patient—honeybees. For the past four years. Dr. Ritchlin, professor and chief of allergy, immunology and rheumatology at URMC, has…