A recent study found that baricitinib improved symptoms of arthritis and rash in patients with active SLE, while maintaining a safety profile consistent with previous findings…

A recent study found that baricitinib improved symptoms of arthritis and rash in patients with active SLE, while maintaining a safety profile consistent with previous findings…
While African Americans and Hispanics—especially women in these ethnic groups—are disproportionately affected by lupus, they are under-represented in clinical trials in lupus and other chronic diseases.1,2 With the help of a new federal grant, the ACR took the first step to address this lack of diversity in lupus trials this year. The ACR’s Collaboration Initiatives…
AMSTERDAM—Molecular signatures in synovial tissue that can be gathered through biopsies are a largely untapped resource that could help guide treatment for rheumatic conditions, an expert said at the EULAR: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology. “I’m convinced that looking into synovial tissue provides us with tools to not only understand mechanisms of disease in rheumatoid…
The immune system is an ocean, wide, vast and unfathomably deep, over which we rheumatologists traverse. Beyond the ripples, waves and eddies on the surface, we can only imagine what lies under the surface. With new information from basic laboratory studies and the incorporation of immunomodulators into clinical practice, we have some new insight into…
Vaneet Kaur Sandhu, MD, & Kathleen Teves, MD |
Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is an autoimmune clotting disorder that may present catastrophically with multiple thromboses over a short period of time. In this article, we examine the case of a woman with undiagnosed APS whose first symptoms presented during a long-haul flight. A review of the literature on thrombosis at high altitudes and during long…
On July 12, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its proposed plan for changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule for 2019.1 Citing the need to reduce paperwork and improve patient care, the CMS detailed a number of changes to payments physicians receive from Medicare that could have a significant impact on…
In several U.S. states, Blue Cross/Blue Shield and other insurers have dropped or are considering dropping coverage of hyaluronic acid injection—or viscosupplementation—for patients with knee osteoarthritis. The decision appears to be based on guidelines published by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons in 2013, which at that time specified that research had not found hyaluronic…
Will Boggs, MD |
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Statin use is associated with an increased likelihood of developing idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM), researchers from Australia report. “[Although] the incidence of IIM is rare, with the increasing use of statins worldwide and the severity of this condition, this study highlights the need for increased awareness of the condition and the importance…
Take the challenge. B—The presenting problem(s) is what is evaluated during the history and examination by the provider. The chief complaint is in the patient’s own words or is a follow-up for his or her current condition. The history of present illness, along with the review of systems, usually guides the provider through the examination….
Renée Bacher |
A phase 3 clinical trial in which researchers treated lupus patients with blisibimod, a biologic treatment that inhibits B cell activating factor (BAFF), did not meet its primary endpoint, but did demonstrate evidence of possible efficacy. Researcher Joan T. Merrill, MD, a member of the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation (OMRF) and OMRF professor of medicine…