The Johns Hopkins Lupus Center, Baltimore, has described its experience using hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) levels.1 Forty-four percent of its patients had levels below 500 ng/mL (partial nonadherence); 13% were severely nonadherent (<200 ng/mL). They were shown their results and educated on HCQ adherence. Adherence then improved to 80%; those with lower HCQ levels had higher disease…
“Greetings of the day!” My email account used to be flooded by these cheerful salutations, referring to me as an esteemed colleague or a thought leader. I have to admit: at first, I enjoyed receiving these messages. Normally, when I log into my email account, I’m greeted by messages—punctuated by red, capital letters—that announce dire…
Public health agencies have been raising the profile of arthritis…
A rare form of large vessel vasculitis, Takayasu arteritis persents with no clear patterns, with patients experiencing vascular symptoms, as well as such systemic symptoms as fever and weight loss. A systematic literature review found evidence to guide rheumatologists in monitoring and treating their patients with Takayasu arteritis…
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)—Patients with hidradenitis suppurativa face an increased risk of developing inflammatory arthritis, according to findings from a claims database. “We observed increased risks of developing ankylosing spondylitis, psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa when compared with those without hidradenitis suppurativa,” says Maria C. Schneeweiss, MD, of Brigham…
ATLANTA—With growing demand for access to rheumatologists in rural areas, a shortage in the number of rheumatologists and the ability to use technology as a bridge to patients in remote areas, telemedicine seems like a smart option. And it certainly can be, experts said at a 2019 ACR/ARP Annual Meeting session in November. But a…
Since 1998, the ACR/European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Exchange Program has supported junior academic rheumatologists, rheumatology professionals and health professionals in rheumatology in traveling from Europe to the U.S., and vice versa, to exchange clinical and research skills, expertise and knowledge. The program is designed to recognize outstanding early career faculty in rheumatology research, so…
A 59-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) presented to our pulmonary clinic for progressively worsening dyspnea of five years’ duration. She described progressively worsening dyspnea after a few minutes of walking on level ground. In addition, she noted worsening pain and morning stiffness of the wrists, knees and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, with subcutaneous nodules. She…
A 14-year-old girl is referred to your office for fatigue and arthralgias. While you’re obtaining her past medical history, she divulges that she has had four episodes of bilateral parotitis, each lasting two weeks. An otolaryngologist evaluated her. She lacked sicca symptoms, had a normal complete blood count (CBC), normal inflammatory markers and a negative…
A 42-year-old man with a history of ulcerative colitis (UC), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and chronic sinusitis was referred to a rheumatologist to evaluate for a possible diagnosis of systemic vasculitis. This patient had developed new skin lesions, gingival hypertrophy and ulcerating tracheobronchitis, concerning for possible granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA). Since 1994, the patient had…