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

Similar RA Outcomes with Abatacept & Tocilizumab

Will Boggs, MD  |  

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Clinical outcomes of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are similar with abatacept and tocilizumab treatment, but the factors that predict efficacy differ for the two agents. “The recommendations for RA treatment from the U.S. and EU describe the use of abatacept and tocilizumab as first-line biologics along with anti-TNF (anti-tumor necrosis factor) inhibitors,” Dr….

EULAR 2015: Biology of Fatigue Rooted in Genes, Cytokines, Free Radicals

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ROME, Italy—Fatigue, a problem experienced frequently by patients with rheumatic diseases, is best thought of as a survival mechanism and as a single phenomenon, not a condition that comes in a variety of forms, an expert said in a session at EULAR 2015, the annual congress of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR). Gene Regulated…

Heart Rate Variability to Predict Treatment Response in Patients with RA

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A growing understanding of the immuno­modulatory effect of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is edging closer to having clinical applications that could one day benefit patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Researchers pursuing this as an alternative path to biomarkers are investigating whether autonomic status can be used to predict response to therapy. Seattle-area rheumatologist and…

Patient-Recorded Office Visits Concern Physicians

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Over the years, cell phones have evolved from purse-size behemoths to the size of a wristwatch. In addition, they have moved from basically a portable telephone to the smartphones of today. Both the changes in size and the added functions have resulted in new concerns for physicians. “We had a family meeting about two years…

Fellow’s Forum Case Report: Aneurysm in Takayasu’s Arteritis

G.C. Yathish, MD, Taral Parikh, MD, Parikshit Sagdeo, MD, Balakrishnan Canchi, MD, Gurmeet Mangat, MD, & Hemanth Kumar Pandharpurkar, MS  |  

A healthy 30-year-old Indian male was performing his routine workout in the gym when he developed giddiness and transient blackouts. He thought it was due to exercising excessively. Over the next month, he developed a low-grade fever and started feeling lethargic, to the extent that he was unable to exercise or work. He was admitted…

Catastrophic Antiphospholipid Syndrome with Pulmonary Hemorrhage: A Case Report

Joy-Ann Tabanor, MD, Hyun Bae, MD, Girish Sonpal, MD, & Karlene Williams, MD  |  

Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune condition characterized by hypercoagulability often manifested as recurrent thrombosis or pregnancy complications, with persistently circulating antiphospholipid (aPL) antibodies or lupus anticoagulant. Catastrophic APS (CAPS), also known as Asherson syndrome, occurs in less than 1% of cases of APS and involves occlusive microangiopathy in at least three organ systems.1 Case…

Online Education for ARHP Members

Sandra Mintz, RN, BSN  |  

In the past decade, there has been a clear demand for and a significant increase in online learning. This was clearly documented in the 2013 report, Changing Course: Ten Years of Tracking Online Education in the United States.1 The report finding demonstrated that 6.7 million students were taking at least one online course, a marked…

Rheumatology Coding Corner Answer: Office Visit for Chronic Idiopathic Gout

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CPT code: 99214 Diagnosis: ICD-9 274.02 **ICD-10: M1A.0720 History—The history of present illness was extended. The review of systems was extended (six systems were reviewed), and two of the three elements for past family social history were documented. This makes the history level detailed. Examination—Three systems were examined. This makes the exam expanded problem focused….