To her new role as ACR Secretary, Dr. Desir brings extensive experience in both private practice and academic medicine, more than a decade of volunteer leadership experience in the ACR and a deep commitment to service.


To her new role as ACR Secretary, Dr. Desir brings extensive experience in both private practice and academic medicine, more than a decade of volunteer leadership experience in the ACR and a deep commitment to service.
At the American Medical Association House of Delegates Special Meeting held Nov. 13–17, 2020, the ACR’s delegation successfully led an effort to update AMA policies on home infusion and copay accumulators.

Early results in a phase 2 trial are finding that adding a TNF blocker to other treatment could greatly lower the risk of serious complications during pregnancy for women who have antiphospholipid syndrome with lupus anticoagulant.

Certain nutrients or dietary patterns may affect inflammation and rheumatic disease risk in certain populations. Recommended nutrients include omega-3 fatty acids found in fish, poultry or nuts. Following a Mediterranean or standard Western diet may affect RA risk too.

ACR CONVERGENCE 2020—New evidence, though derived from small numbers, suggest that treatment with the TNF-inhibitor certolizumab could help improve high-risk pregnancy outcomes in women with antiphospholipid syndrome (with or without systemic lupus erythematosus) and lupus anticoagulants, an expert said. In the Phase 2 IMPACT trial, which has already enrolled 27 women and is continuing to…

Polly J. Ferguson, MD, Jessica Lynton, PharmD, BCPS, & Beth H. Resman-Targoff, PharmD, FCCP, on behalf of the ARP Membership & Nominations Committee |
The number of medications with rheumatologic indications has increased in parallel with expanding complexities of medication approval and delivery. Simply starting a patient on a biologic medication or new disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (DMARD) can be time consuming and frustrating for physicians, nurses and their support staff. In addition to educating the patient and obtaining prior…

As practice administrator for the past nine years at Emerald Coast Rheumatology in Lynn Haven, Fla., Andre Smith has worked to expand what was a single-provider, three-employee practice into an 8,000-square foot rheumatology clinic and 18-chair infusion center with two additional providers. Although not all rheumatologists have a practice administrator on staff, those who do…

Meghan Berkenstock, MD |
Uveitis is an umbrella term for intraocular inflammatory diseases that can lead to vision loss. It’s not just a concern for ophthalmologists. Uveitis occurs in approximately 2–5% of patients with inflammatory bowel disease, 6–9% of patients with psoriatic arthritis and 25% of patients with reactive arthritis. The prevalence may be as high as 33% in…

Larry Beresford |
A strong association between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infections and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) has been known since the 1970s. Although the etiology of SLE is not fully established, multiple genetic factors and polymorphisms in genes involved in the immune system have been implicated, with environmental factors also contributing to the development of this complex condition….

Julianna Desmarais, MD, & Marcia Friedman, MD |
We have all been there when a patient with a systemic autoimmune disease needs sudden coordination of care. Your patient with Behçet’s disease nonchalantly mentions he hasn’t been able to see out of his right eye for two days. The spouse of one of your patients with sarcoidosis writes to you on the patient portal…