ORLANDO, FLORIDA — Given the intersection between rheumatology and dermatology for many patients with autoimmune diseases, it’s helpful to hear from specialists in both fields regarding disease management strategies.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA — Given the intersection between rheumatology and dermatology for many patients with autoimmune diseases, it’s helpful to hear from specialists in both fields regarding disease management strategies.
Research from Choi et al. provides insights into the risk of infection in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), comparing patients treated with Janus kinase inhibitors vs. tumor necrosis inhibitors. The most frequent infection was herpes zoster, with patients treated with JAK inhibitors having a significantly greater risk of herpes zoster infection than those treated with TNF inhibitors.
Mary Choy, PharmD, BCGP, FASHP |
Biosimilars have become a therapeutic turning point for many patients who are living with rheumatic illnesses. Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is a complex, multi-faceted chronic inflammatory musculoskeletal and skin disease where the treatment has changed considerably over the past few years. Psoriatic arthritis has an impact on about 30% of people with psoriasis.1 In 2019, the…
A minority of patients experience lingering symptoms after infection with SARS-CoV-2, similar to some other previously known post-infection syndromes. Although we are just beginning to understand the different presentations, pathophysiology, risk factors, prognosis and treatment of long COVID, rheumatologists can play a leadership role in managing patients with the illness and contributing to this important research…
The ACR has compiled guidelines and tips on how to use the JW modifier and correctly bill Medicare for discarded drugs and biologicals. This modifier can be applied only to unused amounts from a single-dose vial or package.
PHILADELPHIA—At ACR Convergence 2022, the much-anticipated ACR Review Course featured talks from eight experts. Topics reflected the heterogeneity of our field and included Sjögren’s disease, spondyloarthritis (SpA), osteoarthritis (OA), paraneoplastic rheumatic syndromes, metabolic bone disease, statin myopathy, Raynaud’s phenomenon and autoinflammatory syndrome. Here, I share highlights from this comprehensive, six-hour session. Sjögren’s Disease Sara S….
Hala Fadhil Hasan, MBChB; Featured Image from Middle East & North Africa |
Rheumatic Diseases of Childhood: Juvenile Dermatomyositis with Calcinosis Cutis These images depict a 14-year-old boy with a two-year history of proximal muscle weakness affecting both upper and lower limbs, and a skin rash affecting his face. He was diagnosed with juvenile dermatomyositis and developed calcinosis over both legs with skin infection and ulceration. Plain X-ray…
Autoinflammatory disorders may involve genetic mutations of the inflammasome or an environmental trigger in a genetically susceptible host. Dr. Jay Mehta discussed a practical, clinical approach to caring for patients with autoinflammatory disorders, such as periodic fever syndromes, during the 2022 ACR Education Exchange.
Katherine Chakrabarti, MD, & Andrew Vreede, MD |
Abscesses are typically caused by infections, but some are, instead, sterile. Aseptic abscesses (AAs) are characterized by the same neutrophil-rich histopathology as infectious abscesses; however, they don’t improve with antibiotics. Rather, AAs require treatment with anti-inflammatory medications. Although relatively rare, this phenomenon is important for rheumatologists to recognize given its frequent association with underlying systemic…
The Washington Rheumatology Alliance is focused on creative ways to increase the rheumatology workforce to meet the demand for care, such as instituting clinical rotations in rheumatology for nurse practitioner programs and advocating for pediatric rheumatologist loan forgiveness.