Search results for: cancer

Bipartisan DXA Bill Under Consideration in Congress

From the College | June 21, 2021

The Increasing Access to Osteoporosis Testing for Medicare Beneficiaries Act would set a $98 floor for Medicare reimbursement for the dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) bone density test.

The ACR Releases an Updated Treatment Guideline for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD | June 14, 2021

In early June, the ACR released an updated guideline on the management of rheumatoid arthritis, which includes new recommendations for specific high-risk groups.1 The guideline includes 44 recommendations—seven of which are strong and 37 conditional. It underscores the role of methotrexate as a cornerstone therapy and emphasizes minimizing glucocorticoids, when possible. Guideline Development Process At…

The Race Is On: Clinical Trials Begin for Agents Biosimilar to Denosumab

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | May 24, 2021

As the U.S. and other patents for branded denosumab products get closer to expiring, drug manufacturers are initiating clinical trials for more affordable, biosimilar versions of the treatment.

Pegloticase Safe & Effective for Patients with Gout on Dialysis

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | May 19, 2021

Pegloticase is safe and effective to treat patients with refractory gout who are undergoing dialysis, according to recently presented research.

7 Key Insights Into the Evaluation of Central Nervous System Vasculitis

Jason Liebowitz, MD, FACR | May 13, 2021

Many a rheumatology consult has centered on a perplexing question: Does this patient have central nervous system (CNS) vasculitis? At the 2021 ACR State-of-the-Art Clinical Symposium, Rula Hajj-Ali, MD, FACP, professor of medicine and associate director of vasculitis care and research, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, discussed this topic in detail, providing a series…

Case Report: A Rare But Severe Complication of Dermatomyositis

Akrithi Udupa, MD, Paul McIntosh, MD, Thomas J. Cummings, MD, & Lisa Criscione-Schreiber, MD, Med | May 13, 2021

Dermatomyositis is an uncommon autoimmune condition involving skeletal muscle characterized by subacute onset of progressive weakness, intramuscular inflammatory infiltrates and the presence of myositis-specific autoantibodies.1 Immune-mediated myopathies may exert some pathogenic effects on the muscle tissue by targeting the microvasculature.1 Capillary inflammation, fragility and loss may contribute to heightened bleeding events in these patients. Here,…

Tips for Designing Studies That Actually Reveal Causal Inference

Ruth Jessen Hickman, MD | May 13, 2021

In a randomized, controlled trial, the risk difference between groups is interpreted as a causal effect of the treatment, according to Seoyoung C. Kim, MD, ScD, MSCE, an associate professor of medicine in the Division of Pharmacoepidemiology and Pharmacoeconomics and the Division of Rheumatology, Inflammation and Immunity at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical…

Do Bisphosphonates Reduce Cardiovascular-Related Mortality?

Sarah F. Keller, MD, & Marcy B. Bolster, MD | May 13, 2021

It is well known that hip fractures are associated with significant morbidity and mortality: Mortality increases 15–25% in the year following a hip fracture.1–5 We know that treating osteoporosis prevents fractures and improves patient survival. But is there a relationship beyond this? Several studies have found that bisphosphonate therapy is associated with a reduction in…

Food, Diet, Nutrition & Rheumatic Diseases—Are They Really Related?

Brendan Cerk, MD, & Richard S. Panush, MD | April 17, 2021

“‘I didn’t say there was nothing better,’ the King replied. ‘I said there was nothing like it.’” —Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass “Why did I get this? Was it because of my diet? What should I eat now? What diet should I follow? Are there any natural treatments I can take instead of medications?”…