Osteoarthritis and Bone Disorders

Infliximab-abda Becomes 5th Biosimilar Approved in the U.S. & Abaloparatide Approved for Osteoporosis

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | May 22, 2017

The FDA has approved infliximab-abda, a biosimilar for treating multiple rheumatic diseases, as well as abaloparatide for treating postmenopausal women with osteoporosis…

Strategies for Successful Joint Replacement Surgery

Carina Stanton | May 16, 2017

Collaboration among all providers—surgeon, rheumatologist, physical therapist, etc.—is essential for patients with a rheumatic disease who are about to undergo total joint arthroplasty to reach their goals, including reduced pain and improved mobility…

Surgery Won’t Help Degenerative Knee Problems

Marilynn Larkin | May 15, 2017

(Reuters Health)—Arthroscopic surgery won’t cure chronic knee pain, locking, clicking, a torn meniscus or other problems related to knee arthritis, according to a panel of international experts. Every year, more than two million people with degenerative knee problems have arthroscopic surgery. But guidelines published May 10 in the British Medical Journal recommend against the procedure…

Lifetime Risk of Hand Arthritis May Be More Than 40%

Madeline Kennedy | May 12, 2017

(Reuters Health)—A new study finds that as many as four in 10 people may develop hand osteoarthritis. Among women, researchers found the lifetime risk was 47% while for men it was about 25%. Obese people also had 11% higher lifetime risk than those who were not obese. Hand osteoarthritis can cause disability and problems with…

Cracking, Popping Joints May Foretell Arthritis

Carolyn Crist | May 11, 2017

(Reuters Health)—Grating, cracking or popping sounds around joints may predict future arthritis, especially in the knees, according to a recent U.S. study. Among thousands of people with no knee pain who were followed for three years, one quarter had noisy knees yet they made up three quarters of the cases of symptomatic knee arthritis that…

MicroRNAs Provide Insight into Bone Metabolism

Lara C. Pullen, PhD | May 1, 2017

A recent study examined the functional variants within microRNAs that affect bone metabolism and possibly bone disorders. Researchers found overexpression of microRNAs may contribute to the osteoporotic phenotype, and the gene targets associated with two specific osteoblast-expressed microRNAs may be critical in osteoporosis…

Insufficient Evidence Regarding Osteoporosis Medications in Kidney Patients

Will Boggs, MD | April 11, 2017

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—There are insufficient data to make evidence-based decisions regarding the benefits and harms of osteoporosis medications in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to a systematic review and meta-analysis. “We found low to moderate evidence for the effects of some but not all of the medications, and the evidence was limited…

U.S. & Europe Evaluate Abaloparatide Injection & Europe Approves Marketing Baricitinib for RA

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | April 11, 2017

Injectable abaloparatide is being evaluated in the U.S. and Europe to treat postmenopausal women with osteoporosis…

Alterations in the Microbiome Are Associated with Changes in Bone Quality

Lara C. Pullen, PhD | March 28, 2017

By treating mice with antibiotics, researchers found that alterations in the gut microbiome impaired the mechanical properties of bone and depleted splenic B and T cell populations. The researchers suspect the decrease in bone strength resulted from the change in the immune system…

Time to Rethink Inpatient Rehab After Knee Replacement?

Megan Brooks | March 14, 2017

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Inpatient rehabilitation did not lead to better mobility following total knee replacement compared with a home-based program in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) conducted in Australia. The findings do not support inpatient rehabilitation for adults undergoing uncomplicated total knee arthroplasty, conclude the authors in JAMA on March 14.1 “Normally, one study is…