Search results for: tocilizumab

Pearls & Myths: Experts Offer Advice & Dispel Myths

Thomas R. Collins | February 25, 2020

GCA, GPA, myositis, new research—rheumatology care keeps clinicians on their toes & requires them to stay up to date…

FDA Rheumatology Update: New Drug Approvals, Plus Expanded Drug Indications & Safety Concerns

Susan Bernstein | February 12, 2020

Last year, the FDA was busy with new biologic and other drug approvals, new and expanded drug indications, and important safety updates relevant to rheumatology…

Varicella Zoster Virus Not Associated with Giant Cell Arteritis Pathogenesis

Carina Stanton | February 4, 2020

Researchers suggest antiviral therapy is not appropriate for patients with GCA, based on their study findings and related research…

Update on the Management of Takayasu Arteritis

Lara C. Pullen, PhD | February 4, 2020

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 Insights into the Management of Giant Cell Arteritis

Lara C. Pullen, PhD | January 28, 2020

A systematic literature review identified novel evidence on the treatment and management of GCA that was incorporated into the most recent EULAR recommendations on the management of large vessel vasculitis. Investigators confirmed the efficacy of prompt initiation of glucocorticoids and found fast-track approaches to diagnosis lowered the risk of ischemic complications…

Case Report: Obliterative Bronchiolitis in Rheumatoid Arthritis

Robin Paudel, MD, Prerna Dogra, MD, & Richard S. Morehead, MD | January 17, 2020

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…

Race May Not Be a Risk Factor for Giant Cell Arteritis

Lara C. Pullen, PhD | October 21, 2019

Past research has identified being of Northern European descent as a risk factor, among others such as age, sex and HLA DRB1, for developing giant cell arteritis (GCA). But new research casts doubts on this idea, finding that rates of biopsy proven GCA may not differ by race…

Researchers Seek the Best Methods to Maintain Remission in Vasculitis

Jason Liebowitz, MD, FACR | October 18, 2019

MADRID—During the 2019 European Congress of Rheumatology (EULAR), held June 12–15, speakers addressed the complexity of vasculitis in a Challenges in Clinical Practice session titled, How to Maintain Remission in Vasculitis. Although vasculitis appears in many varieties, one commonality exists among these related yet distinct conditions: When there is vital organ or systemic involvement, disease…

Stay the Course: How to Maintain Remission in Vasculitis

Jason Liebowitz, MD, FACR | September 9, 2019

Lessons Learned from Two Scleroderma Lung Studies (Plus a Third That’s Recruiting Sites)

Elizabeth R. Volkmann, MD, MS, Michael D. Roth, MD, Donald P. Tashkin, MD, Cathie Spino, ScD, & Dinesh Khanna, MD, MS | August 16, 2019

Historically, the early approach for treating interstitial lung disease (ILD) due to systemic sclerosis (SSc) involved immunosuppressant therapy, primarily with cytotoxic agents.1 Glucocorticoids in combination with another immunosuppressant agent, such as oral azathioprine or cyclophosphamide, were often used to treat patients with severe, progressive SSc-ILD.2 However, direct evidence to support this therapeutic approach was lacking…