Clinicians and researcher are gaining tools and insights into SLE, with newly proposed classification criteria and new findings on SLE pathogenesis presented at the 2018 EULAR: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology…

Clinicians and researcher are gaining tools and insights into SLE, with newly proposed classification criteria and new findings on SLE pathogenesis presented at the 2018 EULAR: Annual European Congress of Rheumatology…
Take the challenge. Scenario 1 is the correct answer. Although documentation of both scenarios supports a Level 4 visit, only one supports the medical necessity to code an evaluation and management (E/M) visit on the same day with a procedure. Scenario 1 supports the need for a separate E/M visit, because a new problem was…
Growing up in Iowa, Christine Thorburn, MD, loved to run track and cross-country and dreamed of one day being an Olympic runner. Little did the future rheumatologist know that a knee injury would cause her to change course and become a professional road cyclist who would represent the U.S. in two Olympic Games. Dr. Thorburn…
Rheumatologists and orthopedic surgeons must frequently collaborate to provide optimal patient care. Sometimes, they may even work at the same practice and form a care team for easy collaboration. Still, patient management from both specialties can be challenging, and specialists from both sides can learn from each other. How Crossover Starts Rheumatologists and orthopedic surgeons…
Prasanna Bastola, MBBS, & Daniel A. Albert, MD |
Down syndrome (trisomy 21) is one of the most common chromosomal abnormalities. According to the Genomic Resource Centre of the World Health Organization, each year 3,000–5,000 children are born with this chromosome disorder, and about 250,000 families have at least one member with Down syndrome in the U.S. Down syndrome is caused by numerical aneuploidy,…
For patients with refractory Takayasu arteritis (TAK), glucocorticoids (GCs) are often provided as the initial therapy for treatment. However, GCs are often associated with adverse effects for long-term use; relapse also occurs frequently during GC tapering.1 TAK involves interleukin (IL) 6. Tocilizumab—a recombinant, humanized, anti-IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) monoclonal antibody—was first reported by Nishimoto et al….
Harry E. Subramanian, Ravi Sutaria, MD, & Fotios Koumpouras, MD |
Based on the classification system developed by the Chapel Hill Consensus Conference, anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA) associated vasculitis is defined as a necrotizing vasculitis involving small vessels that is associated with myeloperoxidase (MPO) ANCA or proteinase 3 (PR3) ANCA and displays minimal immune deposits. The mechanism behind the pathogenesis of ANCA-associated vasculitis is not fully…
Can principles from engineering provide a broader understanding of how the human skeleton works and be used to help prevent a common and often consequential event for people as they age—bone fractures? Research from a team of investigators that includes orthopedic surgeons and mechanical engineers suggests that, yes, looking at how engineered materials, such as…
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…
As Lyme disease and Lyme arthritis spread to new regions in North America, physicians may ned to become aware of their signs and symptoms. Allen C. Steere, MD, says “Lyme arthritis is more complicated to treat than other manifestations of the disease.” Here are some best practices for treating Lyme arthritis…