Search results for: hospital

RA Drug Tested & FDA Orders Drug-Interaction Studies for Kayexalate

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | November 11, 2015

In multiple trials, baricitinib has proved promising for treating RA. Also, the FDA is requiring drug-interaction studies for sodium polystyrene sulfonate…

NIH Director Addresses Gathering of Experts on Autoimmune Diseases

Richard Quinn | November 10, 2015

NIH Director Francis Collins, MD, PhD, is working to improve funding for research into new treatments for lupus and RA through the Accelerating Medicines Partnership, a coalition of private and public partners identifying and validating promising biological targets for therapeutics…

High-Spending Doctors Are Less Likely to Be Sued

Andrew M. Seaman | November 5, 2015

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Providing more care than necessary may work to lower a doctor’s risk of being accused of malpractice, suggests a new U.S. study. Although the results can’t prove extra expenditures are due to defensive medicine, the researchers found that doctors in Florida who provided the most costly care between 2000 and 2009 were…

German Registry Evaluates Systemic Psoriasis Treatments

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | November 4, 2015

The German Psoriasis Registry, PsoBest, found conventional systemic and biologic drugs for psoriasis demonstrated relative safety from serious adverse events in patients between January 2008–December 2012…

RA Patients on DMARDs Have Higher Risk of Infection

Richard Quinn | November 3, 2015

Preventing infection in patients with RA should be a consideration for rheumatologists prescribing disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs after a Swedish study found patients on these therapies have a 6.1% risk of developing serious infection.

Tofacitinib on Hold for Psoriasis, Plus Anti-TNFs Top FDA List for Adverse Events

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | October 28, 2015

The FDA is asking for more safety analysis before approving tofacitinib to treat psoriasis. Also, adalimumab and etanercept received the greatest number of adverse and serious adverse events reported to the FDA in 2014…

Even Doctors & Nurses Don’t Always Have Healthy Lifestyles

Lisa Rapaport | October 22, 2015

NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Even doctors and nurses don’t always follow the healthy lifestyle choices they recommend for patients to reduce the risk of medical problems, such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes, a U.S. study suggests. Although rates of these conditions appeared lower among healthcare workers than other people, the diseases were still common. They…

FDA Warns ‘Don’t Use Tramadol in Children’ & More

Michele B. Kaufman, PharmD, BCGP | October 21, 2015

New studies show ABT-494 is an effective alternative to anti-TNF alpha agents, as well as methotrexate, for RA. Also, the FDA issued a warning against using tramadol for young patients due to their increased risk of respiratory side effects…

Celiac Disease in Pediatric Patients

Richard Quinn | October 21, 2015

A retrospective study shows that some patients presenting for pediatric rheumatology evaluation test positive for celiac disease—some without showing any gastrointestinal manifestations. Treatment includes a gluten-free diet…

Musculoskeletal Ultrasound: A Valuable Tool for Diagnosing Rheumatic Illnesses

Khushboo Sheth, MBBS, & Christopher Scola, MD | October 15, 2015

Musculoskeletal (MSK) ultrasound is a valuable imaging modality for the practicing rheumatologist and provides an efficient tool with high diagnostic value in the evaluation of patients with musculoskeletal complaints. The use of MSK ultrasound has evolved in the U.S. due to the emergence of less-expensive, portable ultrasound units, which provide high-quality gray-scale and power Doppler…