New research has provided a never-before-seen view of the genetic activity that may be used to map the polygenic nature of common rheumatic diseases. Two recent studies have employed distinct approaches to identify the non-coding gene variants, digging deep into human genetic data to uncover the mechanism of rheumatic diseases…
Gaps in healthcare are common between the ages of 17 and 21. But simple collaborations between adult and pediatric rheumatologists can go a long way to help young adults stay engaged in their rheumatology care…
Inflammatory diseases can cause uveitis. Early detection and treatment are essential, but when uveitis goes undetected it can cause blindness. Here’s how to protect your patients…
Joseph McDonald, MD, Virginia Miraldi Utz, MD, & Sheila T. Angeles-Han, MD, MS |
Uveitis is an inflammation of the uvea, which comprises the iris, ciliary body and choroid. Uveitis can lead to ocular damage and complete visual loss. Noninfectious etiologies for uveitis are the most common in the U.S.1 The estimated incidence of uveitis ranges from 25–52 per 100,000 in adults and five per 100,000 in children. The…
(Reuters)—On Tuesday, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones filed a complaint on behalf of the State of California against AbbVie Inc., alleging the drugmaker gave illegal kickbacks to healthcare providers to prescribe its blockbuster drug, Humira. The regulator alleged that AbbVie engaged in a far-reaching scheme including cash, meals, drinks, gifts, trips and patient referrals, as well…
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…
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,…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Adalimumab appears to be safe for treating pediatric patients with polyarticular juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), enthesitis-related arthritis (ERA), psoriasis and Crohn’s disease (CD), according to data from company-sponsored clinical trials. Adalimumab is an anti-tumor necrosis factor monoclonal antibody with demonstrated efficacy in these conditions, but pediatric safety data remains limited. Dr. Gerd…
“Wait. I can explain.” One could imagine this phrase coming up under many conditions in daily life. When I first became a physician, however, I would never have expected to use this phrase in my clinic. In medical school, I was taught the importance of dialogue in establishing a relationship with a patient. Statistics indicate…